HIS 

While  you  converse 

with  lords  and 

dukes, 

Q 

I    have    their  betters 

— 

M 

here  —  my  books, 

J 

Fixed  in  an   elbow- 

^ 

j> 

chair  at  ease, 

J^ 

* 

I  choose  compan 
ions  as  I  please. 

GO* 

—  THOMAS   SHERIDAN 

TO    DEAN    SWIFT 

BOOK 

/A 


HISTORY 


OF 


The  Eighth  Regiment 


VERMONT    VOLUNTEERS. 


i86i--i86«y 

;  J'^J'1  • 


BY   GEO.   N.   CARPENTER. 


ISSUED    BY    THE     COMMITTEE     OF    PUBLICATION. 


BOSTON: 

PRESS    OF    DELAND    &    BARTA. 
1886. 


H533 


C3 


COPYRIGHT    1886 

BY 
N. 


Illustrations  by  Forbes   6°   Co.,   Boston. 


TO     THE     PEOPLE 

OF    HIS    NATIVE    STATE,    THIS    MEMORIAL    OF 

PATRIOTIC      SERVICE 

IS 

DEDICATED 
BY     THE     AUTHOR. 


M176S70 


COMMITTEE'S  PREFACE, 


AT  several  reunions  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  of  U.  S. 
Volunteers,  the  opinion  was  freely  expressed  that  a  regimental 
history  ought  to  be  published,  in  order  to  preserve  in  a  per 
manent  form  the  records  of  its  service  and  achievements.  In 
pursuance  of  this  idea,  committees  were  appointed  at  different 
times  to  obtain  materials  for  such  a  volume  and  solicit  contribu 
tions  to  the  work  from  members  of  the  command.  Although 
some  progress  in  this  direction  had  been  made,  no  decisive  action 
was  taken  until  the  reunion  held  in  Montpelier  in  June,  1885. 
At  that  meeting  the  subject  was  agitated  afresh,  and  ex-Gov. 
Barstow  offered  a  resolution  that  the  undersigned  constitute  a 
committee  of  publication,  with  power  to  prepare  and  print  the 
contemplated  book. 

To  make  the  enterprise  immediately  practicable,  ample 
pecuniary  aid  was  pledged,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  com 
mittee,  and  the  material  already  in  the  possession  of  the  regi 
mental  secretary,  Dr.  C.  M.  Ferrin,  and  a  member  of  the 
committee,  was  placed  in  their  hands  to  be  used  as  a  basis  for 
the  history,  and  the  work  was  inaugurated  by  the  choice  of 
George  N.  Carpenter  as  historian. 

As  the  result  of  their  labor  the  committee  now  offer  their 
comrades  this  volume,  which,  in  unpretentious  style,  tells  a 
simple  story  of  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  and  its  military 


COMMITTEE'S    PREFACE.  V 

career  in  camp,  on  the  march,  and  in  battle ;  with  many 
incidents  and  relations  which  have  a  peculiar  interest  for  the 
regiment,  or  those  members  of  it  more  immediately  concerned. 

Believing  that  such  a  book  as  they  have  prepared  should  be 
strictly  a  regimental  history,  and  not  a  criticism  on  the  conduct 
of  the  war,  the  committee  have  sought  to  exclude  from  its 
pages  all  irrelevant  matter,  and  have  avoided  reference  to  the 
troops  with  which  they  served,  and  to  the  general  movements 
and  progress  of  battles,  except  when  the  story  could  not  be 
clearly  set  forth  without  so  doing.  Within  the  prescribed 
scope,  too,  certain  limits  have  been  observed,  so  far  as  its  pages 
are  concerned.  The  book  deals  solely  with  the  creditable 
deeds  of  officers  and  privates,  and,  on  the  ground  that  nothing 
else  deserves  to  be  preserved  in  such  a  permanent  form,  con 
signs  all  else  to  oblivion. 

Having  been  at  great  pains  to  verify  every  important  state 
ment  by  the  accounts  of  reliable  comrades,  who  could  indorse 
it  from  personal  knowledge,  and  to  ransack  the  memories  of 
those  who  participated,  for  accurate  details  of  battles  and 
marches,  the  committee  feel  justified  in  pronouncing  the  history 
accurate  and  reliable  in  all  essential  respects.  At  the  same 
time  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  book  must,  of  necessity,  lack 
somewhat  in  fulness  of  detail,  owing  to  the  lapse  of  so  many 
years  since  the  events  narrated  took  place.  This  feature  will 
be  particularly  noticeable  in  the  lists  of  wounded,  and  those 
taken  prisoners,  which,  though  corrected  and  enlarged  up  to 
the  very  moment  of  going  to  press,  are  still  incomplete. 

The  committee  desired  to  embellish  the  pages  of  the  book 
with  portraits  of  all  the  officers  who  held  commissions  in  the 
regiment.  They  regret,  therefore,  that  some  who  were  invited 
to  furnish'  pictures  for  this  purpose  have  declined  so  to  do  ; 
they  fear,  also,  that  others  may  have  failed  to  receive  the 
notices  which  were  mailed  to  all  whose  addresses  could  be 
ascertained,  or  to  their  friends  in  cases  where  the  officers  were 
not  living.  It  is  a  pleasure,  however,  to  include  in  the  list  of 
illustrations  the  portraits  of  several  officers  who,  though  not 
belonging  to  the  Eighth  Regiment,  were  known  and  greatly 


vi  COMMITTEE'S   PREFACE. 

esteemed  by  its  members.  The  excellent  portrait  of  Gen. 
Philip  H.  Sheridan  accompanies  the  fac-simile  of  his  autograph 
letter  ;  another  inset  shows  the  familiar  face  of  Gen.  W.  H. 
Emory,  under  whose  command  the  regiment  accomplished  some 
of  its  most  valuable  service ;  the  thoughtful,  kindly  features  of 
Gen.  Godfrey  Weitzel  also  find  a  place  near  the  warm  personal 
letter  in  which  he  has  paid  the  regiment  a  sincere,  discrim 
inating  compliment. 

The  great  amount  of  patient  labor  involved  in  the  preparation 
of  this  work,  the  extent  of  which  those  who  have  undertaken  it 
alone  can  appreciate,  has  been  cheerfully  done,  to  the  end  that 
the  survivors  of  the  regiment,  their  families,  and  the  public, 
might  possess  a  true  record  of  what  their  patriotic  service  cost 
the  Eighth  Regiment  from  the  state  of  Vermont. 

STEPHEN  THOMAS. 
GEORGE  N.  CARPENTER. 
HERBERT  E.   HILL. 
S.   E.   HOWARD. 
BOSTON,  May  i,  1886. 


AUTHOR'S   PREFACE. 


IN  compliance  with  the  wish  of  comrades  and  the  committee 
of  publication,  the  author  consented  to  act  as  historian  of  his 
regiment.  The  work,  undertaken  as  a  labor  of  love  and  con 
scientiously  performed,  has  been  far  more  exacting  than  was 
anticipated  at  the  outset,  and  often  full  of  discouragement. 
No  means  have  been  neglected  to  make  the  story  as  complete 
as  possible,  and  whatever  success  has  been  achieved  is  due  to 
those  who  have  kindly  furnished  the  facts  set  forth  in  these 
pages.  If  anything  essential  has  been  omitted,  the  author  begs 
to  remind  readers  that  no  one  man  can  have  witnessed  all  the 
movements  of  a  single  body  of  troops,  and  the  full  history  of 
the  regiment  would  contain  the  personal  experience  of  every 
one  who  belonged  to  it. 

The  author  desires  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  all 
who  have  aided  by  contributions  and  otherwise  in  the  prepara 
tion  of  the  work.  And  especially  would  he  express  his 
obligations  to  ex-Gov.  Barstow  for  valuable  aid  ;  to  Gen. 
Thomas  for  information  which  could  be  furnished  only  by  the 
highest  officer  in  command  ;  to  Col.  Hill  for  his  description 
of  the  battle  of  the  Opequon,  and  the  thrilling  accounts  of 
the  morning  and  afternoon  engagements  at  Cedar  Creek  ;  to 
Capt.  Howard  for  the  careful  preparation  of  the  statistical 
tables,  and  his  account  of  the  battle  at  Winchester  ;  to  Col. 


Vlll  AUTHOR'S    PREFACE. 

Fred.  E.    Smith   for  letters,    valuable    papers,    and   important 
suggestions.      He    desires  to  mention  particularly  Dr.    C.  M 
Ferrin,  Capt.  John  Bisbee,  Lieut.  James  Welch,  Lieut.  Porter, 
Sergt.  A.  P.   Hawley,  Sergt.  W.  E.  Hallada^  C.  A.  Dean,  and 
Charles  E.  Hardy,  who  have  aided  him  in  various  ways. 

He  is  under  obligations  to  Capt.  F.  H.  Buffum  for  permis 
sion  to  adapt  for  the  work  maps  published  in  the  valuable 
history  of  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  and  to 
Mr.  C.  M.  Barrows  for  his  able  professional  services  in  revising 
and  editing  the  manuscript  and  superintending  its  publication. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

INTRODUCTION - i 

PART    I. 

ORGANIZATION 9 

CAMP  HOLBROOK 17 

GOING  TO  THE  FRONT 24 

NEW  ORLEANS       .    • 32 

PART   II. 

ALGIERS 40 

RACELAND 50 

BOUTEE  STATION 53 

DES  ALLEMANDS 55 

SHOOTING  THE  GERMANS 63 

BRASHEAR  CITY 74 

PART    III. 

BATTLE  OF  THE  COTTON 82 

PART    IV. 

BISLAND 97 

ALEXANDRIA 106 

PART   V. 

PORT  HUDSON 112 

THE  FIRST  ASSAULT 114 

THE  SECOND  ASSAULT 123 

THE  SURRENDER 132 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  SIEGE  . 134 

PART   VI. 

BAYOU  TECHE  AGAIN 137 

A  VETERAN  REGIMENT 143 

ON  A  FURLOUGH  : 146 

GOING  NORTH 152 


CONTENTS. 
PART   VII. 


To  THE  SHENANDOAH 
THE  VALLEY 


PART   VIII. 

BATTLE  OF  OPEQUON    .................  168 

As  OTHERS  SEE  Us      ....     .............  172 

CAPT.  HOWARD'S  STORY   ................  175 

COL.  HILL'S  STORY   ..................  184 

INCIDENTS     .....................  195 

PART   IX. 

FISHER'S  HILL  ....................  199. 

TOM'S  BROOK    ....................  202 

PART   X. 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  CREEK     ...............  205 

THE  MORNING  FIGHT    .................  214 

THE  AFTERNOON  FIGHT    ................  220- 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  FIGHT      ...............  229 

PART   XL 

NEWTOWN      .....................  236 

SUMMIT  POINT  ....................  238 

MUSTERED  OUT     ...................  245 

IN  RETROSPECT     ...................  249 

PART   XII. 

THE  EIGHTH  VERMONT  IN  CIVIL  LIFE      ....    ......  252 

SKETCH  OF  GEN.  THOMAS     ...............  253 

Gov.  HOLBROOK  ..................  .263 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 265 

PROMOTIONS  OF  ENLISTED  MEN 276- 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT 281 

BATTLES  AND  SKIRMISHES 281 

NON-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND    PRIVATES    WHO   DlED   FROM 

DISEASE,  ETC 283 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER 286 

RECAPITULATION 319 

APPENDIX. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT  AT  WINCHESTER    .     . 321 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT  AT  CEDAR  CREEK 331 


PORTRAITS  AND  OTHER  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

GEN.  STEPHEN  THOMAS Frontispiece. 

Gov.  FREDERICK  HOLBROOK 18 

CAMP  HOLBROOK 20 

CARROLTON  SIGNAL  STATION 42 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS 52 

^FATHER"  ISAAC  BLAKE       66 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS ' 84 

BATTLE  OF  THE  COTTON 88 

BATTLE  OF  PORT  HUDSON 114 

CAPT.  H.  E.  FOSTER 116 

LIEUT.  S.  F.  SPALDING 126 

LIEUT.  COL.  C.  DILLINGHAM 138 

Q.  M.  FRED  E.  SMITH       140 

MAJ.  J.  L.  BARSTOW 150 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS 152 

GEN.  G.  WEITZEL .'    .     .  154 

MAJ.  H.  M.  POLLARD 164 

BATTLE  OF  OPEQUON 168 

CAPT.  G.  O.  FORD 194 

LIEUT.  COL.  H.  F.  BUTTON 198 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS 200 

GEN.  P.  H.  SHERIDAN 204 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  CREEK 208 

GEN.  W.  H.  EMORY 214 

DEFENCE  OF  THE  FLAGS 218 

SHERIDAN'S  AUTOGRAPH  LETTER 220 

COL.  J.  B.  MEAD 244 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS 248 

COL.  H.  E.  HILL 320 

MONUMENT  AT  WINCHESTER 330 


INTRODUCTORY. 


To  a  majority  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  Union  the  armed 
revolt  of  1 86 1  came  as  a  surprise  and  a  shock.  They  knew, 
indeed,  that  the  slave-holding  states  were  determined  to  per 
petuate  and  extend  their  peculiar  institution  if  possible,  and 
that  it  was  the  one  paramount  issue  that  controlled  political 
action  at  the  South.  They  were  not  blind  to  the  grave  disaf 
fection  felt  at  every  attempt  to  limit  slavery  by  legislation  ; 
but  the  hot  sectional  debates  on  the  floor  of  congress,  and  the 
angry  threats  of  Southern  leaders,  sounded  quite  too  distant  and 
vague  to  shake  the  popular  faith  that  the  mighty  nation  could 
hold  each  state  fast  in  a  compact  of  perpetual  union.  Even 
when  South  Carolina  had  passed  an  ordinance  of  secession, 
Dec.  20,  1860,  and  six  sister  states  had  followed  her  bold  exam 
ple,  the  opinion  prevailed  at  the  North  that  in  some  way  the 
breach  would  be  closed,  and  the  disputes  settled  or  compro 
mised. 

A  few  far-seeing  men  who  knew  the  Southern  mind  more 
intimately  took  a  different  view.  One  of  this  class  was  Judge 
Stephen  Thomas,  of  Vermont.  Being  a  prominent  man  in  the 
state  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Democratic  party,  his  sense 
of  the  gravity  of  the  national  problem  was  deep  and  prophetic. 
He  had  been  an  honored  delegate  to  all  the  national  Demo 
cratic  conventions  since  1848,  and  was  present  at  that  stormy 
session  held  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  April,  1860,  which  rent  the 


2  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

party  in  twain  and  raised  such  bitter  sectional  disputes  between 
the  factions.  Often  in  public  debate  and  private  interview  had 
he  tried  to  convince  the  Southern  politicians  that  the  North  did 
not  seek  to  trespass  on  their  rights  or  meadle  with  any  local 
issue  of  the  slave  states.  He  had  discovered  with  pain  that 
their  ears  were  deaf  to  the  appeals  of  reason  and  patriotism  ; 
that  the  infatuated  leaders  spoke  flippantly  of  the  Union  with 
its  glorious  memories ;  he  had  marked  the  cool  indifference 
with  which  they  referred  to  the  possibility  of  dividing  the 
nation  and  setting  up  an  independent  confederacy  on  Southern 
soil.  Knowing,  as  few  of  his  Northern  fellow-citizens  did,  the 
intensity  of  Southern  hate,  the  hotspur  spirit  of  the  leaders,  and 
the  military  capacity  and  resources  at  their  command,  he  fore 
saw  with  alarm  and  sorrow  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  would  soon  be  called  upon  to  maintain  its  rights  against 
a  giant  armed  rebellion. 

When,  therefore,  Governor  Fairbanks  called  an  extra  session 
of  the  General  Assembly,  on  the  twenty-third  of  April,  1861,  it 
was  with  a  heavy  heart  that  Judge  Thomas  went  to  Montpelier 
to  meet  his  colleagues  in  the  House.  Fort  Sumter  had  fallen, 
a  civil  war  was  fairly  begun,  President  Lincoln  had  called  for 
volunteers  to  enter  the  loyal  army,  and  the  legislature  of  which 
he  was  a  member  was  to  consider  what  response  Vermont 
should  make  in  this  dire  emergency. 

Judge  Thomas  was  the  only  Democratic  member  of  the 
special  committee  to  which  was  referred  the  various  bills 
for  raising,  arming,  and  paying  troops  for  the  national  de 
fence.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and 
Means,  which  had  under  consideration  an  important  bill  author 
izing  the  governor  and  treasurer  of  the  state  to  borrow  such 
a  sum  of  money  as  the  legislature  at  this  extra  session  might 
vote  to  appropriate  for  military  purposes.  How  much  money 
to  appropriate  was  the  first  question  to  be  decided,  and  the 
assembly  and  the  people  awaited  with  deep  anxiety  the  recom 
mendation  of  the  committee. 

After  this  committee  had  organized  and  was  ready  for  busi 
ness,  a  motion  was  made  to  report  a  bill  appropriating  half  a 


THE    EXTRA    SESSION.  3 

million  of  dollars,  and  a  very  earnest  discussion  followed. 
Every  member  had  spoken  his  sentiments  on  the  motion  except 
the  judge,  who  sat  in  the  rear  of  the  committee-room  listening 
intently  to  every  word  that  was  uttered.  At  last  the  chairman 
called  upon  him.  Rising  from  his  seat  and  stepping  forward 
near  the  table,  where  he  could  command  the  gaze  of  every 
member,  Judge  Thomas  gave  utterance,  in  a  very  impressive 
manner,  to  convictions  which  no  other  speaker  seemed  to  have 
shared  with  him.  The  solemn  prophecy  of  his  words  was  well- 
nigh  startling,  as  he  told  them  that  the  country  was  on  the  eve 
of  a  gigantic  contest  to  preserve  the  Union.  He  knew  well 
the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  Southern  leaders.  They  were  dead 
in  earnest  to  destroy  the  Federal  government,  and  establish  a 
confederacy  of  which  human  slavery  would  be  the  chief  corner 
stone.  It  was  not  enough  that  in  his  inaugural  address,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  plainly  told  them  it  was  not  his  purpose  to  inter 
fere  with  the  institutions  of  any  of  the  states  ;  they  wanted 
absolute  separation.  He  felt  that  they  would  use  every  possi 
ble  means  to  accomplish  their  end.  That  meant  war,  and  we 
should  find  them  "  foemen  worthy  of  our  steel."  "Gentlemen 
of  the  Committee,"  said  he,  in  closing  his  remarks,  "  I  am  not 
only  in  favor  of  appropriating  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  for 
this  war,  but  I  am  in  favor  of  appropriating  one  million  of  dol 
lars.  It  will  require  a  million,  and  I  am  not  sure  but  that  sum 
will  be  needed  before  the  next  regular  session  of  the  legis 
lature  in  October.  I  therefore  move  to  amend  the  bill,  by 
making  the  governor,  lieutenant-governor,  and  treasurer  a  com-  ' 
mittee  to  borrow  at  once  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  with 
authority  to  borrow  another  five  hundred  thousand  when  it 
shall  be  needed." 

The  earnestness  and  candor  of  this  unexpected  speech,  con 
vinced  every  member  of  the  committee  that  the  judge  was 
right,  and  without  further  debate  it  was  voted  to  report  the 
sum  he  had  named,  and  the  bill  thus  amended  was  adopted. 

When  the  House  took  up  the  appropriation  bill  for  consider 
ation,  it  was  no  more  prepared  than  was  the  committee  to 
accept  the  radical  view  of  the  secession  movement  presented 


4  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT, 

by  Judge  Thomas.  At  first  there  was  some  mild  opposition 
to  the  provisions  of  the  bill,  and  objections  were  raised  by  dif 
ferent  members.  The  legislature  ought  to  be  very  cautious  about 
voting  to  expend  the  enormous  sum  of  one*  million  of  dollars, 
—  there  was  no  way  of  raising  such  an  amount  except  by  direct 
taxation,  and  that  was  a  doubtful  expedient, —  and  other  equally 
formidable  obstacles  were  suggested,  showing  how  little  those 
who  uttered  them  realized  the  true  situation  of  national  affairs, 
One  of  the  principal  arguments  against  the  bill  was  made  by 
a  brilliant  member,  who  was  one  of  the  ablest  debaters  in  the 
House.  He  closed  his  speech  with  these  words  :  "  I  tell  you, 
Mr.  Speaker,  and  gentlemen  of  the  House,  if  you  put  a  million 
of  dollars  into  one  side  of  the  scale  and  the  patriotism  of  the 
people  into  the  other,  the  million  of  dollars  will  vastly  out 
weigh  the  patriotism." 

This  base  rating  of  the  loyalty  of  the  sons  of  Vermont 
roused  Judge  Thomas  to  defend  his  position  in  one  of  the  most 
impassioned  and  telling  speeches  ever  heard  in  the  state-house. 
Hastily  taking  the  floor,  he  repeated  with  a  terrible  emphasis 
what  he  had  already  declared  in  the  meeting  of  the  committee, 
about  the  nature  of  the  approaching  struggle  between  the 
North  and  South,  and  the  vast  importance  of  the  issues  at 
stake.  To  him  it  was  nothing  less  than  a  contest  for  the  per 
petuity  of  the  free  government  bequeathed  to  them  by  their 
fathers  ;  and  when  the  gentleman  said  that  a  million  of  dollars 
would  outweigh  the  patriotism  of  the  people  of  Vermont,  he 
felt  disgusted  at  his  ignorance  of  the  popular  mind. 

At  this  point  the  author  of  the  odious  libel  interrupted  the 
speaker,  and  tried  to  pla'ce  a  different  construction  on  his  words, 
without  retracting  his  assertion.  But  paying  no  heed,  to  this 
digression,  Judge  Thomas  proceeded  to  urge  upon  his  hearers 
the  duty  of  the  hour,  in  the  most  earnest  and  eloquent  lan 
guage  he  could  command.  He  reminded  them  that  theirs  was 
among  the  first  loyal  states  to  speak,  and  it  was  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  she  should  set  a  good  example  to  sister  states, 
and  give  no  uncertain  sound.  Prompt,  bold  action  would  have 
the  effect  to  encourage  patriotism  and  dishearten  traitors. 


RINGING    WORDS.  5. 

When  the  honor  and  life  of  the  nation  were"  threatened,  there 
was  but  one  right  thing  for  every  loyal  citizen  to  do.  He 
would  not  consent  to  have  it  said,  in  the  state  of  his  birth, 
among  the  Green  Mountains,  in  the  land  of  Ethan  Allen,  that 
monqy  could  outweigh  patriotism.  The  gentleman  was  alto 
gether  wrong,  and  did  not  know  the  people,  if  he  believed  what 
he  had  said  to  be  true. 

Again  the  member  who  had  made  the  unfortunate  remark 
sought  to  modify  its  meaning  and  make  it  less  offensive.  But 
the  sturdy  judge  refused  to  yield  him  quarter,  and  persisted 
that  there  was  no  uncertain  meaning  in  the  demands  of  patriot 
ism.  He  did  not  vote  for  the  state  officers  named  in  the  bill 
before  the  House  ;  yet  he  would  trust  them  as  loyal  citizens 
of  Vermont,  and  he  had  the  most  undoubted  faith  in  the 
people  behind  them.  Rising  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion, 
the  speaker  held  his  audience  spell-bound,  while,  with  vehe 
ment  and  eloquent  words,  he  pleaded  for  his  imperilled  country, 
and  the  honor  of  the  free  institutions  which  made  this  the  best 
government  under  heaven.  Nothing  could  resist  the  trenchant 
logic  of  his  argument,  as  he  pictured  in  vivid  colors  the  sacri 
fices  that  must  be  made  for  the  salvation  of  the  Union,  and 
ended  his  speech  with  the  following  telling  period  : 

"  Until  this  rebellion  shall  have  been  put  down,  I  have  no 
friends  to  reward  and  no  enemies  to  punish  ;  and  I  trust  that 
the  whole  strength  and  power  of  Vermont,  both  of  men  and  of 
money,  will  be  put  into  the  field  to  sustain  the  government." 

While  Judge  Thomas  was  speaking,  every  eye  was  fixed  upon 
him,  and  men  listened  with  the  closest  attention,  until  he  sat 
down  and  the  spell  of  his  eloquence  was  broken  ;  then  they 
burst  forth  in  enthusiastic  applause,  which  told  more  plainly 
than  words  could  have  said  it,  that  he  had  won  the  day.  The 
vote  upon  the  bill  was  taken  immediately,  and  every  member 
voted  "  Yes." 

The  Senate  bill  authorizing  the  raising  of  four  Vermont  vol 
unteer  regiments  for  immediate  service  in  "  protecting  and 
defending  the  constitution  and  the  Union,"  soon  came  up  for 
consideration  in  the  House,  and  again  the  clear-headed,  far-see- 


6  THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 

ing  patriot  of  the  Democratic  party  gave  shape  and  tone  to 
the  action  of  his  colleagues.  He  moved  to  amend  the  bill, 
making  the  number  of  regiments  six  instead  of  four.  But  on 
this  point,  also,  a  majority  of  the  House  were  conservative 
and  objected,  showing  how  little  they  realized  the  strength  of 
the  revolt  to  be  put  down,  or  the  magnitude  of  the  army  that 
would  be  required  to  do  it.  It  was  claimed  that  if  Vermont 
should  raise  three  regiments,  and  the  other  loyal  states  con 
tributed  proportionally,  it  would  put  into  the  field  a  larger 
army  than  could  ever  be  needed. 

In  answer  to  this  plausible  argument  Judge  Thomas  replied, 
that  the  true  policy  was  not  to  calculate  how  few  men  from 
each  state  the  President  can  get  along  with  ;  but  they  should 
ask,  "  How  many  men  can  Vermont  raise  at  once  and  put  into  the 
field  ?  "  Thus,  by  showing  the  national  strength  at  the  outset 
of  the  campaign,  the  enemy  will  be  intimidated,  and  bloodshed 
and  treasure  saved.  The  effect  of  his  speech  caused  the  House 
to  so  modify  and  amend  the  Senate  bill  that  the  governor  of 
the  state  was  thereby  authorized  to  recruit  two  regiments  with 
out  delay,  and  four  others  whenever  in  his  judgment  their  ser 
vices  should  be  needed.  Subsequent  events  showed  that  not 
only  the  force  thus  provided  for  was  immediately  needed,  but 
that  before  the  next  legislature  convened  the  entire  six  regi 
ments  were  ready  to  be  put  into  the  field,  together  with  the  first 
regiment  of  Vermont  cavalry. 

But  there  remained  yet  another  duty  to  be  performed  before 
the  House  could  discharge  the  special  business  which  it  had  met 
to  transact.  Legislation  reached  its  guarding  hand  still  further, 
and  considered  what  compensation  would  be  due  from  the  state 
to  those  who  should  volunteer  to  engage  in  military  service. 
And  yet  again  it  was  the  potential  thought  of  Judge  Thomas 
that  advocated  a  liberal  policy  towards  the  defenders  of  the 
country.  The  bill  to  be  acted  upon  was  entitled  "An  Act 
to  authorize  the  embodying  and  equipment  of  a  volunteer 
militia,  and  provide  for  public  defence."  This  was  duly  referred 
to  a  special  committee,  of  which  the  judge  was  a  member,  and 
while  deliberating  upon  it  he  told  the  committee  that  Vermont 


GENEROUS   PAY.  j 

had  always  stood  at  the  head  of  all  the  states  in  caring  for  her 
soldiers.  She  was  the  only  state  which  made  the  pay  of  her 
soldiers  engaged  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  equal  to  specie ; 
that  in  the  war  of  1812  she  paid  her  volunteer  militia  five 
dollars  a  month  in  addition  to  the  pay  they  received  from  the 
United  States,  and  it  should  not  be  said  that  Vermont  was  less 
liberal  then  than  she  had  been  in  the  past.  "  The  only  ques 
tion  now,"  said  the  judge,  "is,  what  sum  of  money  would  be 
equal  to  five  dollars  in  1812,  when  money  was  less  abundant, 
and  consequently  more  valuable  than  it  is  to-day  ? "  He 
thought  it  would  require  at  least  seven  dollars  to  equal  five  in 
1812,  and  he  therefore  moved  that  non-commissioned  officers, 
musicians,  and  privates  receive,  in  addition  to  the  compensation 
paid  them  by  the  United  States,  the  sum  of  seven  dollars  a 
month  each,  to  be  paid  them  by  the  state. 

This  important  motion  was  approved  by  the  committee,  and 
the  act  thus  amended  passed  the  House ;  and  in  complying 
with  its  generous  provisions  three  million,  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  thousand  ($3, 146,000)  dollars  were  subsequently  paid 
to  the  enlisted  soldiers  and  their  families. 

It  goes  without  saying  that,  in  urging  upon  his  associates 
his  view  of  the  situation,  Judge  Thomas  rightly  estimated  the 
sentiment  that  pervaded  the  land  of  Ethan  Allen.  Nobly  did 
Vermont  offer  her  best  blood  and  treasure  on  the  altar  of  our 
common  country  in  the  hour  of  peril ;  bravely  did  her  patriotic 
sons  haste  to  the  front  in  defence  of  the  dear  old  flag.  A 
quarter  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  war's  dread  tocsin  sum 
moned  them  to  arms.  Sun  and  rain  have  bleached  the  blood 
stained  fields  where  they  fought,  and  clothed  with  verdure  the 
graves  of  the  fallen.  The  horrors  of  battle  are  followed  by 
the  blessings  of  a  securer  peace.  And  now  in  gratitude  for  the 
service  rendered,  one  who  knows  its  history  attempts,  as  a 
labor  of  love,  to  record  the  sufferings  and  achievements  of  one 
of  the  most  prominent  regiments  that  loyal  New  England  sent 
forth  to  conquer  the  Great  Rebellion. 


The  Eighth  Vermont. 


ORGANIZATION. 

THE  insurgent  frenzy  of  the  South  had  become  organized, 
defiant  rebellion ;  the  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  who 
responded  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  on  the  fifteenth  of 
April,  1861,  had  served  their  three  months  at  the  front  and 
returned  home  ;  the  three  hundred  thousand  called  for  a  month 
later  were  in  the  field  ;  a  military  way  had  been  opened  through 
Annapolis  to  the  national  capital;  the  Union  arms  had  suf 
fered  a  disastrous  rout  at  Bull  Run  ;  the  aristocracy  of  England 
was  seeking  a  plausible  pretext  to  urge  the  recognition  of  the 
Confederacy  as  a  belligerent  nation  ;  and  sagacious  men  in  the 
loyal  states  were  beginning  to  realize  that  the  opening  conflict 
was  no  mere  summer  campaign,  when  Gen.  Benj.  F.  Butler  of 
Massachusetts  was  ordered  to  take  command  of  the  depart, 
ment  of  New  England,  and  to  raise  in  those  states  a  force  to 
operate  in  the  far  South. 

In  pursuance  of  his  instructions  he  at  -once  made  a  special 
demand  on  the  patriotism  of  the  people;  and  in  October,  1861, 
he  visited  the  governor  of  Vermont  at  Montpelier,  to  ask  his 
co-operation  in  the  work  of  raising  the  troops  required  for  this 
service.  The  answer  of  the  Green  Mountain  boys  was  the 


10  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Eighth  Regiment  and  two  batteries,  promptly  marched  into 
camp  and  reported  ready  for  duty  —  a  brave  contribution  to  the 
Union  ranks,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  state  had  already 
sent  one  cavalry  and  six  infantry  regiments  to  the  front,  and 
was  recruiting  a  seventh,  when  the  request  of  Gen.  Butler  laid 
an  additional  burden  upon  its  sturdy  shoulders. 

Thus  began  the  history  of  a  band  of  volunteers,  whose  faith 
ful  and  heroic  service  in  the  great  struggle  to  maintain  the 
honor  of  the  national  flag,  it  is  desired  to  place  on  record  in 
this  volume.  Its  military  career  was  peculiar  and  in  some 
respects  unique,  since  the  regiment  was  recruited  under  direct 
order  of  the  general  government  with  very  little  assistance 
from  local  authorities,  was  formed  in  the  short  space  of  less 
than  three  months  and  sent  into  camp  in  midwinter,  and  its 
brigade  and  corps  relations  were  with  troops  from  other  States 
than  its  own  during  the  entire  service. 

As  soon  as  Gen.  Butler's  wishes  were  made  known,  with 
prompt  alacrity  the  state  sanctioned  the  undertaking  by  the 
passage  of  a  special  legislative  act ;  and  thus  armed  with  full 
power  to  operate,  the  next  step  was  to  secure  as  commander 
of  the  proposed  regiment  a  man  who  stood  high  in  the  public 
confidence,  and  would  push  the  business  in  hand  with  the 
utmost  vigor.  After  a  brief  consultation,  the  general  was  con 
vinced  that  Hon.  Stephen  Thomas,  formerly  judge  of  probate  in 
Orange  county,  was  the  right  man,  and  lost  no  time  in  tendering 
him  the  colonelcy,  and  urging  him  to  accept  it  without  delay. 
At  first  Judge  Thomas  hesitated  to  assume  so  grave  a  military 
trust.  He  was  bred  to  the  quiet  habits  of  civil  and  profes 
sional  life  ;  he  felt  the  'claims  and  pressure  of  its  manifold 
cares  and  held  his  own  abilities  in  modest  esteem.  He  was 
ready  to  sacrifice,  he  shrank  from  no  privation  or  danger,  but 
the  glories  of  the  man  of  war  had  no  attraction  for  him.  The 
spell  of  indecision  was  of  short  duration,  however,  for  patriot 
ism  and  the  earnest  desire  of  personal  friends  overcame  every 
scruple,  and  Judge  Thomas  put  his  hand  to  the  plow,  never  to 
look  back  until  the  armed  revolt  against  his  beloved  country 
was  suppressed. 


RECRUITING    OFFICERS.  II 

His  commission  was  dated  November  12,  1861,  and  from 
that  time  he  ceased  to  ply  the  vocations  of  peace,  and  entered 
upon  his  new  official  duties  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm  and 
unwearied  devotion.  His  potent  energy  was  everywhere  felt  ; 
he  traversed  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  state,  making  pub 
lic  addresses,  and  urging  on  the  work  of  enlistment  with  the 
greatest  ardor.  In  the  choice  of  capable  staff-officers  Col. 
Thomas  was  very  fortunate,  and  it  was  on  his  recommendation 
that  Mr.  Fred  E.  Smith,  of  Montpelier,  was  appointed  quarter 
master,  to  supplement  his  efforts.  This  officer's  commission 
was  issued  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  November,  and  he 
proved  a  most  efficient  co-laborer  in  the  preparatory  work  of 
procuring  supplies  and  equipping  the  men  as  they  came  into 
camp,  thus  relieving  his  superior  officer  of  the  details  involved 
in  the  rapid  purchase  and  distribution  of  uniforms  and  other 
supplies. 

As  an  indispensable  part  of  the  machinery  of  enlistment,  the 
colonel  appointed  in  different  parts  of  the  state  the  following 
recruiting  officers  : 

CHARLES  B.  CHILD,  Derby  Line,  November  18. 

HENRY  E.  FOSTER,  St.  Johnsbury,  „  18. 

CYRUS  B.  LEACH,  Bradford,  „  19. 

EDWARD  HALL,  Worcester,  „  18. 

HIRAM  E.  PERKINS,  St.  Albans,  „  19. 

SAMUEL  G.  P.  CRAIG,  Randolph,  „  18. 

HENRY  F.  DUTTON,  Townsend,  „  18. 

WILLIAM  W.  LYNDE,  Marlboro,  „  18. 

JOHN  S.  CLARK,  Lunenburg,  „  19. 

In  compliance  with  their  instructions  these  gentlemen  began 
at  once  the  business  of  enlistment,  and  as  fast  as  they  were 
filled  the  companies  chose  their  commissioned  officers,  and 
were  assigned  places  in  the  regiment  corresponding  to  the 
dates  of  these  elections. 

Company  A  was  recruited  by  Luman  M.  Grout  and  Moses 
McFarland,  'in  Lamoille  county  and  the  town  of  Worcester, 
in  Washington  county,  and  was  originally  intended  for  the 
Sixth  Regiment  ;  but  before  the  ranks  were  entirely  full  the 


12  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

men  were  ordered  to  report  at  Montpelier,  where  the  adjutant 
general  of  the  state  wished  to  separate  them  and  assign  them 
to  different  companies  in  the  Sixth,  which  lacked  a  maximum 
number.  To  this  distribution,  however,  the  members  resolutely 
objected,  declaring  that  they  had  enlisted  to  serve  together; 
consequently  they  were  ordered  back  to  Hyde  Park,  to  remain 
until  the  full  complement  of  men  was  recruited.  The  maximum 
was  reached  Nov.  13,  and  the  following  officers  were  imme 
diately  elected  :  Captain,  Luman  M.  Grout ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Moses  McFarland  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Gilman  Rand. 

Company  B  was  recruited  by  Charles  B.  Child,  of  Derby 
Line,  assisted  by  Stephen  F.  Spalding,  Fred.  D.  Butterfield, 
and  John  Bisbee,  during  the  months  of  November  and  Decem 
ber.  It  was  to  their  advantage  that  Mr.  Spalding  had  already 
served  with  the  ninety-days'  volunteers  who  answered  to  the  first 
call  of  the  President,  and  was  familiar  with  military  tactics  ;  for 
as  fast  as  the  members  enlisted  he  began  to  drill  them  at  Derby 
Line,  and  prepare  them  to  assume  at  once  the  duties  of  active 
service.  The  required  number  of  men  was  obtained  on  the 
I4th  of  December,  and  they  elected  :  Captain,  Charles  B.  Child  ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Stephen  F.  Spalding ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Fred  D.  Butterfield  ;  and  on  reaching  camp  at  Brattleboro, 
the  company  was  assigned  to  the  left  of  the  line. 

Company  C  was  raised  in  Caledonia  county,  and  principally 
in  the  town  of  St.  Johnsbury.  It  was  recruited  by  Henry  E. 
Foster,  was  organized  about  ten  days  later  than  Company  B, 
and  had  the  honor  to  be  the  color  company  of  the  regiment. 
On  the  25th  of  December  the  men  elected  as  commissioned 
officers  :  Captain,  Henry  E.  Foster ;  First  Lieutenant,  Edward 
B.  Wright ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Frederick  J.  Fuller. 

Company  D  procured  a  majority  of  its  members  from 
Bradford,  and  the  complement  was  filled  with  small  detach 
ments  of  men  from  Fairlee,  West  Fairlee,  Corinth,  Topsham, 
Newbury,  and  Thetford,  all  adjacent  towns  in  Orange  county. 
The  company  was  recruited  by  the  men  who  subsequently 


COMPANIES.  !3 

served  as  its  commissioned  officers,  and  was  organized  Decem 
ber  28th,  by  the  choice  of  :  Captain,  Cyrus  B.  Leach ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  Alfred  E.  Getchell ;  Second  Lietitenant,  Darius  G.  Child. 

Company  E  had  its  recruiting  station  at  Worcester,  in  the 
county  of  Washington,  and  the  men  who  superintended  the 
enlistment  were  afterwards  elected  as  its  officers.  It  organized 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  1862,  and  chose:  Captain,  Edward 
Hall;  First  Lieutenant,  Kilbourn  Day;  Second  Lieutenant,  T. 
P.  Kellogg. 

Company  F  was  the  sixth  in  the  regiment  to  report  at 
Brattleboro,  reaching  the  camp  on  the  eighth  day  of  January. 
The  members  were  recruited  mostly  in  Franklin  county,  and 
completed  the  organization  by  electing  the  following  officers, 
January  3d :  Captain,  Hiram  E.  Perkins ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Daniel  S.  Foster;  Second  Lieutenant,  Carter  H.  Nason. 

Company  G  was  the  second  company  recruited  in  Orange 
county,  under  the  efficient  direction  of  Samuel  G.  P.  Craig 
and  John  B.  Mead,  of  Randolph,  who  displayed  great  activity  in 
their  efforts  to  enlist  men  for  the  service.  In  six  weeks  this 
company  was  full,  and  elected  officers  on  the  seventh  day  of 
January,  as  follows  :  Captain,  Samuel  G.  P.  Craig ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  Job  W.  Green  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  John  B.  Mead. 

Company  H  was  raised  in  Windham  county,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Henry  F.  Dutton,  of  Townsend,  assisted  by 
A.  B.  Franklin,  W.  H.  H.  Holton,  S.  E.  Howard,  and  W.  H. 
Smith.  It  was  organized  January  I7th,  by  the  choice  of  officers  : 
Captain,  Henry  F.  Dutton  ;  First  Lieutenant,  Alvin  B.  Franklin, 
Second  Lieutenant,  W.  H.  H.  Holton. 

Company  I  was  recruited  by  William  W.  Lynde,  of  Marl 
boro,  with  the  help  of  George  N.  Holland  and  George  E. 
Selleck.  The  men  enlisted  during  the  months  of  December 
and  January,  and  rendezvoused  at  Williamsville,  where  they 
were  drilled  in  military  tactics  by  Mr.  Selleck.  On  the  seven- 


I4  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

teenth  day  of  January  the  company  organized,  and  elected  as 
officers  :  Captain,  William  W.  Lynde  ;  First  Lieutenant,  George 
N.  Holland  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Joshua  C.  Morse. 

Company  K  was  the  last  to  report  in  camp,  and  completed 
the  number  required  for  the  Eighth  Regiment.  It  was 
recruited  by  John  S.  Clark,  of  Lunenburg,  and  elected  its  three 
commissioned  officers  January  22d  :  Captain,  John  S.  Clark  ; 
First  Lieutenant,  A.  J.  Howard  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  F. 
French. 

The  field  and  staff  officers  of  the  regiment,  appointed  and 
commissioned  by  the  governor,  are  given  below,  with  the  dates 
of  their  respective  commissions  : 

Colonel,  ....  STEPHEN  THOMAS,  Commissioned  November  12,  1861. 

Lieut.  Colonel,  EDWARD  M.  BROWN,  January         9,  1862. 


Major,    ....  CHARLES  DILLINGHAM, 
Quartermaster,  FRED  E.  SMITH, 
Adjutant,  .  .  .  JOHN  L.  BARSTOW, 
Surgeon,  ....  GEORGE  F.  GALE, 
Ass't  Surgeon,  H.  H.  GiLLETT, 
Chaplain,  .  .  .  REV.  FRANCIS  C.  WILLIAMS, 


January  19,  1862. 
November  23,  1861. 
February  19,  1862. 
November  23,  1861. 
December  10,  1861. 
December  20,  1861. 


Col.  Thomas  appointed  the  following  non-commissioned 
staff :  Sergeant  Major,  George  N.  Carpenter ;  Quartermaster 
Sergeant,  J.  Elliot  Smith ;  Commissary  Sergeant,  Lewis  Child  ; 
Drum  Major,  Gershom  H.  Flagg  ;  Hospital  Steward,  Samuel 
H.  Currier,  M.  D. 

The  First  Battery  was  chiefly  raised  through  the  exertions 
of  George  W.  Duncan,  /of  South  Shaftsbury,  and  George  T. 
Hebard,  of  Chelsea,  who  were  appointed  for  that  service 
November  19,  1861.  It  contained  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
men,  including  officers,  and  as  the  result  of  an  election  held 
January  16,  1862,  the  following  choice  was  made  :  Captain, 
George  W.  Duncan  ;  First  Lieutenants,  George  T.  Hebard  and 
Henry  N.  Colburn  ;  Second  Lieutenants,  Salmon  B.  Hebard  and 
Edward  Rice.  It  reported  to  Col.  Thomas  in  Brattleboro,  on 
the  twentieth  day  of  January. 


A    PECULIAR    REGIMENT.  15 

The  Second  Battery  was  recruited  by  Lensie  R.  Sayles,  and 
contained  one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  and  was  mustered  into 
service  December  16,  1861,  having  previously  elected  officers 
as  follows  :  Captain,  Lensie  R.  Sayles ;  First  Lieutenants,  C. 
D.  Smith  and  Benj.  N.  Dyer  ;  Second  Lieutenants,  John  A. 
Quilty  and  John  W.  Chase.  This  battery  went  into  camp  at 
Lowell,  Mass. 

The  following  abstract  of  a  report  furnished  by  an  officer  of 
the  regiment,  gives  in  detail  the  arduous  work  of  organization 
that  devolved  on  the  quartermaster  and  his  assistants  : 

The  Eighth  Regiment  and  the  First  and  Second  Batteries  of 
artillery  were  raised  by  authority  of  the  legislature  of  the  state, 
and  were  recruited,  armed,  and  equipped  by  Col.  Thomas, 
under  direct  instructions  from  the  United  States  government, 
through  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler.  These  troops  consequently  stood 
in  entirely  different  relations  to  the  state  from  other  volunteers 
who  went  from  Vermont.  Regiments  enlisted  by  the  state 
received  care  and  supplies  from  state  officials,  but  the  troops 
raised  by  Col.  Thomas  could  not  look  to  Vermont  for  any  aid, 
and  the  responsibility  and  labor  of  providing  for  them  devolved 
wholly  upon  him  and  his  staff.  In  a  very  important  sense  they 
belonged  to  the  general  government,  and  not  to  the  state  where 
they  enlisted,  and  must  look  to  the  general  government  for 
whatever  they  required.  They  were  not  entitled  to  share  in 
the  state  aid  which  was  so  lavishly  provided  for  other,  Vermont 
troops.  On  leaving  for  the  front,  the  only  state  property  they 
took  with  them  was  a  lot  of  "  sectional  houses  "  which  the  men 
never  wanted,  and  did  not  use  after  leaving  Camp  Holbrook. 

Being  thus  thrown  on  their  own  resources  and  compelled  to 
obtain  supplies  as  best  they  could  through  red-tape  avenues, 
the  members  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  developed  as  young  Ver- 
monters  of  spirit  are  apt  to  do  under  such  circumstances. 
The  experience  made  them  self-reliant,  rugged,  able  to  meet 
and  endure  the  hard  life  in  store  for  them.  In  their  veins 
flowed  the  best  blood  of  the  Green  Mountain  state ;  and 
being  forced  to  depend  upon  their  own  exertions,  such  men 


!6  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

were  bound  to  make  a  reputation  for  ability  and  bravery,  and 
achieve  a  fame  that  would  be  the  glory  of  the  state. 

In  order  to  encourage  and  promote  rapid  enlistments,  Col. 
Thomas  and  Quartermaster  Smith  were  continually  on  the 
move  among  the  recruiting  stations,  from  Brattleboro  to  Derby 
Line,  working  days  and  travelling  nights  ;  holding  war  meetings 
and  making  addresses ;  contracting  for  supplies  and  transporta 
tion,  paying  bills,  and  seehig  that  the  work  was  pushed  forward 
with  the  utmost  vigor. 

It  was  fortunate  that,  in  selecting  his  staff,  Col.  Thomas 
chose  practical  business  men,  some  of  whom  had  previously 
served  the  state  in  organizing  and  furnishing  other  outgoing 
regiments. 

To  make  a  proper  estimate  of  the  case,  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  regiment  bivouacked  in  the  middle  of  a  Vermont 
winter  of  unusual  severity,  amid  deep  snows,  when  the  thermom 
eter  ranged  from  ten  to  fifteen  degrees  below  zero.  Their  only 
shelter  was  a  lot  of  cheap  sectional  wooden  houses,  less  conven 
ient  and  comfortable  than  tents  would  have  been.  Their  mess- 
house  was  a  rough  shed,  and  the  hospital  for  the  sick  was  but 
little  better.  Under  such  inhospitable  conditions  the  men 
resolutely  and  patiently  set  themselves  about  the  task  of  learn 
ing  the  duties  of  the  soldier,  and  practicing  the  necessary  daily 
drill.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  a  regiment  that  displayed  such 
devotion,  endurance,  and  industry,  proved  efficient  in  the  ser 
vice  and  Biade  its  mark  in  the  army  ? 

The  "winter  of  their  discontent"  was  not  unrelieved  by 
amusing  and  pleasant  experiences,  as  when  Col.  Thomas  found 
in  the  village  certain  ddalers  who  continued  to  supply  "evil 
spirits  "  to  his  men,  after  being  warned  to  desist.  He  did  not 
wait  for  the  slow  and  quibbling  course  of  the  prohibitory  law, 
but  confronted  the  offenders  with  a  file  of  soldiers  with  fixed 
bayonets,  and  the  sellers  were  glad  to  make  satisfactory  terms. 

One  day  some  mischief-loving  assistant  in  the  cook's  depart 
ment  intimated  to  the  boys  that  the  meat  that  was  cooking  for 
dinner  was  hurt.  Maj.  Frank  Goodhue  heard  the  report  and 
sought  counsel  of  Quartermaster  Smith  as  to  the  proper  course 


GOING    INTO    CAMP.  if 

to  be  pursued,  for  the  exasperated  boys  threatened  to  pull  down 
the  cook-house.  It  was  agreed  that  the  regiment  should  be 
told,  as  they  were  falling  in  for  dinner,  to  observe  the  quality  of 
the  beef,  and  if  it  proved  to  be  bad  and  furnished  by  the 
caterer  knowing  its  condition,  they  might  raze  his  quarters  to 
the  ground.  What  shouts  went  up  from  the  tables,  when,  on 
marching  in,  they  found  not  only  wholesome  meat,  but  every 
man  a  bowl  of  savory  oysters,  hot  from  the  suspected  stew-pan. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  have  many  grateful  recollections  of 
kind  attentions  from  the  ladies  of  Brattleboro,  and  especially 
of  necessities  and  delicacies  sent  to  their  quarters  for  the  sick. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  Quartermaster  Smith  was  ordered 
to  Brattleboro  to  secure  grounds,  arrange  barracks,  and  make 
all  necessary  preparations  for  the  reception  of  recruits  at  the 
beginning  of  the  new  year.  From  that  time  until  the  regiment 
quitted  the  state,  his  labors  were  manifold,  and  his  duties 
required  close  attention  and  the  utmost  exertion  day  and  night. 


CAMP  HOLBROOK. 

Seldom  do  civilized  men  experience  a  more  abrupt  and 
thorough  change  in  their  mode  of  existence  than  did  Uncle 
Sam's  raw  recruits  on  quitting  their  homes  for  the  first  trial  of 
camp  life.  To  take  an  outing  in  midsummer,  and  dwell  in 
tents  for  a  few  bright  days,  as  Whittier  and  his  three  friends 
did  on  Salisbury  beach,  or  as  many  others  have  done,  in  abso 
lute  abandon,  and  ruled  by  no  law  more  exacting  than  one's 
own  sweet  will,  may  be  restful  and  poetic.  It  is  quite  another 
thing  —  be  you  volunteer  or  conscript,  it  is  all  the  same  —  to 
march  into  camp  to  the  martial  beat  of  a  drum,  there  to  surren 
der  your  personal  liberty,  and  obey  the  iron-hearted  despot 
who  in  ancient  times  was  styled  the  dread  god  of  war.  Those 
only  who  have  tried  it  can  realize  what  it  is  to  forsake  all  the 
wonted  ways  of  civil  and  social  custom,  —  family,  business, 
society,  church,  scene,  however  simple  or  prosaic,  —  and  form 
new  and  strange  associations  under  the  pressure  of  a  rigorous 


!8  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

law,  that  forbids  indulgence  and  ease,  and  reduces  one's  imped 
imenta  and  rations  to  the  limits  of  bare  necessity. 

When  the  boys  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  turned  their  backs 
on  the  comforts  of  their  own  firesides,  and* said  farewell  to  all 
their  dear  ones,  it  was  a  change  to  chill  anything  less  temper 
ate  than  true  Yankee  patriotism,  for  them  to  bivouac  in  the 
dead  middle  of  a  hard  Vermont  winter,  in  rude  wooden  build 
ings  standing  on  the  open  plain  like  very  bleak-houses  to  cut 
the  northern  blast.  Used  to  all  the  devices  by  which  Green 
Mountain  farmers  know  so  well  how  to  rob  the  frost-king  of  his 
icy  terrors,  it  was  a  real  sacrifice,  a  genuine  test  of  pluck,  for 
them  voluntarily  to  adopt  a  mode  of  life  in  which  paucity  of 
comforts  and  manifold  trials  were  the  common  lot. 

The  place  selected  for  a  camp  was  a  short  distance  south 
west  of  the  village  of  Brattleboro.  The  elevation  was  high, 
and  the  field  afforded  ample  room,  both  for  the  quarters  of  the 
soldiers,  and  a  parade  ground  for  company  and  battalion  drills. 
It  was  christened  in  honor  of  Governor  Holbrook,  and  proved 
to  be  so  well  adapted  as  a  place  of  temporary  rendezvous  for 
the  state  troops,  that  it  was  retained  and  used  for  that  purpose 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

As  already  intimated,  the  winter  of  1861-62  was  one  of  unu 
sual  severity  ;  snow  began  to  fall  very  early  in  the  season,  and 
came  to  stay,  for  each  new  storm  added  to  its  depth,  and  the 
weather  was  extremely  cold.  To  increase  their  discomfort,  the 
portable  wooden  buildings  in  which  the  men  were  quartered 
were  by  no  means  fitted  to  resist  the  inclemency  of  such  a 
winter,  being  constructed  in  a  hasty  manner,  like  summer 
houses  at  the  beach.  They  were  heated  with  large  wood 
stoves,  and  the  sleeping  berths  for  the  use  of  the  men  were 
ranged  on  each  side,  one  above  another.  Through  the  day  the 
occupants  huddled  together,  and  by  burning  a  very  liberal 
supply  of  fuel,  managed  to  keep  themselves  comfortably  warm, 
in  an  atmosphere  reeking  with  the  steam  from  damp  garments, 
and  tobacco  smoke  ;  but  at  night,  when  they  had  laid  themselves 
away  upon  the  shelves  of  bunks  provided  for  them,  and  were 
disposed  to  sleep,  it  was  found  that  a  degree  of  heat  necessary 


LEARXIXG     THE    TACTICS.  jg 

to  keep  those  in  the  lower  berths  warm  nearly  suffocated  their 
comrades  in  the  dormitories  over  their  heads.  The  natural 
result  of  this  ill-conditioned  regimen  was  that  scores  of  boys 
fell  sick  with  severe  colds,  and  the  surgeons  not  only  had  a 
little  foretaste  of  army  practice,  but  soon  had  a  hospital  full  of 
patients  ;  chills  and  fever  attacked  a  large  number,  and  shortly 
after  the  measles  and  mumps  broke  out  in  the  camp. 

Still,  to  the  credit  of  the  brave  boys  be  it  said,  they  seldom 
made  any  complaint,  even  though  camp  fare  did  not  compare 
favorably  with  the  abundance  and  variety  with  which  their  own 
tables  at  home  were  spread.  It  is  true  that  their  ideas  not 
unfrequently  differed  from  those  of  the  cook  about  the  best  way 
of  preparing  certain  delicacies,  but  they  were  too  well-bred  and 
considerate  to  intrude  their  personal  preferences  upon  his 
notice,  unless  they  were  exasperated  by  finding  too  much  sea 
soning  in  the  broth  ;  and  the  only  time  that  a  strongly  pro 
nounced  murmur  escaped  their  lips  was,  when  the  surgeon 
tried  to  deceive  them  with  sundry  doses  of  "  preventatives " 
surreptitiously  mingled  with  the  soup. 

The  bare  details  of  that  training  process  which  rapidly  con 
verts  a  force  of  undisciplined  citizens  into  a  regiment  of 
soldiers,  drilled  in  military  tactics  and  equipped  for  a  campaign, 
would  make  very  monotonous  reading.  But,  common  as  such 
experience  became  during  the  first  years  of  the  war,  each 
act  of  this  metamorphosis  was  novel  and  deeply  interesting 
to  the  fresh  recruits  ;  even  the  awkward  manoeuvres  and  the 
inevitable  blunders  displayed  during  the  process  of  martial 
education  had  a  fascination  for  the  learner,  which  might  seem 
almost  unaccountable  in  the  retrospect,  after  he  became  a 
veteran  in  the  service.  But,  simple  as  the  task  may  appear,  it 
was  no  boys'  play  for  even  the  most  earnest  in  those  schools  of 
tactics  to  curb  the  native  waywardness  of  the  free  citizen,  and 
compel  eyes,  hands,  and  feet  to  obey  with  promptness  and  pre 
cision  the  stern  commands  addressed  to  the  ear.  They  were  no 
more  at  ease  in  blue  uniforms  than  was  the  rural  David  going 
forth  to  fight  Goliath  in  a  coat  of  mail.  A  gun  in  their  hands 
was  an  awkward  weapon,  more  likely  to  harm  themselves  than 


20  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

to  hurt  anybody  else ;  and,  in  this  case,  as  always  happens  when 
full-grown  men  attempt  to  learn  new  movements,  they  dis 
covered  how  to  do  it  long  before  the  muscles  would  respond, 
and  it  was  often  like  taking  some  stronghold  of  an  enemy  to 
bring  their  limbs  into  subjection,  and  make  them  and  their 
equipments 

.     .     .     .  "but  as  the  hands 
Of  loyal  vassals  toiling  for  their  liege." 

One  of  the  amusing  incidents  in  the  earlier  camp  experience 
transpired  when  Quartermaster  Smith  issued  to  the  future 
soldiers  the  stock  of  clothing  furnished  by  the  government  for 
their  use.  It  was  clear  that  Uncle  Sam's  contracting  tailor 
who  made  the  garments  had  no  idea  of  measuring  the  man  and 
then  fitting  his  suit ;  he  seemed  rather  to  expect  that,  having 
made  the  uniforms  according  to  certain  patterns,  it  would  be 
the  duty  of  the  officers  who  distributed  them  to  fit  each  wearer 
to  his  clothes,  as  Procrustes,  the  Attic  highwayman,  fitted 
victims  to  his  bed.  As  a  fact,  however,  when  the  time  came  to 
exchange  the  citizen's  dress  for  the  soldier's  garb,  it  provoked  a 
deal  of  hilarious  mirth  to  see  a  square-shouldered,  portly  man 
struggling  to  encase  his  ample  limbs  in  trousers  scant  enough 
to  please  a  dude ;  while  a  lean,  light-weight  comrade  fairly  lost 
his  corporeal  identity  in  the  baggy  capacity  of  a  fat  man's  coat. 
Nor  were  the  seams  of  these  new  garments  always  equal  to  the 
strain  to  which  they  were  subjected,  so  that  in  the  course  of  the 
first  week  after  they  were  donned,  many  of  the  wearers  had  to 
resort  to  the  spools  and  cushions  thoughtfully  provided  by  a 
loving  wife  or  mother,  'and  turn  bushelman.  Whether  these 
government  suits  were  warm  enough  for  service  in  Camp 
Holbrook  at  the  season  of  midwinter  need  not  be  too  curiously 
questioned,  since  they  were  quite  equal  to  resisting  the  milder 
air  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  a  few  weeks  later ;  but  for 
real  comfort,  so  long  as  they  tarried  in  Brattleboro,  it  were 
better  had  each  man  been  clad,  like  the  doughty  warriors  of  the 
renowned  Mynheer  Michael  Paw,  in  ten  pairs  of  linsey-woolsey 
breeches. 


CD 

o- 


-^^^J • ••..•".'.::•..••  •       '     :     ': : "'  •' .::.:!:::i  !.':':'; 


THE    FIRST    DRESS    PARADE.  21 

But  on  entering  the  camp,  every  company,  whether  disposed 
to  make  its  discomforts  a  subject  of  sport  or  complaint,  was  at 
once  subjected  to  a  rigid  course  of  military  discipline,  which  was 
not  relaxed  until  they  ceased  to  be  soldiers.  Morning  naps 
were  disturbed  by  the  reveille,  followed  by  the  roll-call ;  unaccus 
tomed  ears  soon  became  used  to  the  various  calls  for  policing 
the  camp,  detail  for  the  day,  sick  call,  guard  mounting,  and  com 
pany  drill.  For  some  time  the  daily  drill  consisted  simply  of 
marching  and  other  company  movements  ;  but  about  the  middle 
of  January  guns  and  knapsacks  were  received,  and  then  the 
regiment,  by  squads  and  companies,  was  exercised  every  morning 
in  the  manual  of  arms.  At  first  the  handling  of  muskets  was 
awkward  business,  and  even  those  who  took  pride  in  the  use 
of  "shooting  irons"  in  the  capacity  of  hunters,  were  as  likely 
as  their  less  expert  comrades  to  accompany  the  "  right  shoulder 
shift"  with  a  right  elbow  punch,  or  to  let  the  breech  of  a  gun 
drop  heavily  on  some  protruding  toes,  when  the  command  came  : 
"  Order  arms  !  "  But  patient  effort  in  due  time  conquered  the 
annoyances  of  the  "awkward  squad,"  and  on  the  sixteenth  day 
of  the  month  the  regiment,  proud  of  its  military  achievements, 
held  its  first  dress  parade.  It  must  in  candor  be  admitted  that 
the  performance  was  not  an  entire  success  ;  but  the  next  was 
an  improvement,  and  very  soon  it  came  to  be  the  common 
practice  for  friends  of  the  soldiers  and  citizens  of  Brattle- 
b.oro  to  repair  to  the  camp  every  pleasant  afternoon  to 
witness  this  interesting  spectacle.  No  one  who  was  present 
will  ever  forget  the  praiseworthy  efforts  of  the  drum  corps  to 
master  the  various  scores ;  or,  when  Adjutant  Barstow  had 
brought  his  men  to  parade-rest,  how  proudly  kind-hearted 
Drum-Major  Flagg  led  his  band  up  and  down  the  line,  beating 
the  air  with  his  drawn  sword  as  a  baton. 

Nor  was  it  in  the  ranks  alone  that  a  rigid  course  of  instruc 
tion  in  arms  was  pursued  ;  the  commissioned  officers,  too,  needed 
lessons,  and  several  evenings  each  week  they  assembled  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  colonel,  and  were  taught  the  manual  of 
arms  and  the  various  regimental  movements.  In  this  business 
Col.  Thomas  was  ably  assisted  by  Lieut.  Col.  Brown  and  Maj. 


22  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Dillingham,  both  of  whom  had  served  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

At  length  the  novelty  of  the  situation  wore  off,  the  men 
became  habituated  to  their  new  mode  of  life,4:he  reins  of  author 
ity  were  drawn  a  little  tighter,  members  who  were  home  on  short 
furloughs  were  recalled,  and  everything  was  put  in  readiness  to 
break  camp  whenever  the  order  should  be  received.  There  was 
some  delay,  however,  in  mustering  the  regiment  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  for  Gov.  Holbrook  would  not  consent 
that  it  should  be  done  until  the  recruiting  expenses  had  been 
paid  by  the  general  government.  But  on  the  eighteenth  day 
of  February,  arrangements  being  completed,  the  transfer  was 
formally  effected,  and  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  great 
loyal  army  of  the  Union,  the  muster  rolls  being  dated  January 
2  ist,  at  which,  time  the  regiment  was  full. 

Then  followed  restless  days  of  waiting  for  orders  to  go  to 
the  front.  The  men  were  on  the  qui  vive  of  expectation,  and 
the  camp  was  full  of  rumors  as  to  their  destination.  One  day 
it  would  be  reported  that  the  regiment  would  embark  at  once 
for  Port  Royal  ;  the  next  day  it  seemed  equally  probable  that 
Fortress  Monroe  would  shortly  throw  its  impregnable  walls 
around  the  untried  soldiers ;  then  this  rumor  in  turn  faded  be 
fore  a  later  one,  that  Camp  Holbrook  was  to  be  deserted  for  the 
battle-ground  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  These  and  many 
equally  reliable  pieces  of  news  had  their  run  like  epidemics 
through  the  lines,  and  then  died  out,  until  by  and  by  the  men 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  such  speculations  were  vain,  since 
no  reliable  information  on  the  subject  had  yet  been  made 
public. 

Meanwhile,  February  2ist,  the  enlisted  men  received  the 
first  instalment  of  their  state  pay,  which  was  at  the  rate  of 
seven  dollars  a  month  ;  and  seven  days  later  the  sum  was  aug 
mented  by  the  receipt  of  the  wages  due  them  from  the  United 
States. 

Every  detail  was  now  carefully  attended  to,  and  the  regiment 
appeared  to  be  about  ready  to  move,  when  the  medical  stores 
were  found  to  be  scanty,  and  another  delay  was  caused,  while 


ROSTER    OF    OFFICERS.  23 

Col.  Thomas  and  Surgeon  Gale,  after  persistent  demands,  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  a  limited  supply  for  their  use. 

It  is  a  curious  comment  on  the  public  opinion  prevailing  at 
that  time,  that  when  the  regiment  was  on  dress  parade  on  the 
fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  Col.  Thomas  read  to  them  a  tele 
gram  just  received,  announcing  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson 
by  Gen.  Grant,  and  told  the  men  that  unless  they  started  for 
the  front  at  once,  the  army  of  the  west  would  end  the  war 
and  have  all  the  honor.  How  little  did  any  man  realize  at  that 
time  the  gigantic  strength  of  the  new-fledged  confederacy ! 
The  brave  men  whose  eager  faces  looked  resolutely  southward 
on  that  bright  winter  afternoon,  could  not  read  in  the  horo 
scope  of  the  near  future  the  years  of  hardship,  and  fighting,  and 
glory  awaiting  them,  or  the  sacrifice  of  noble  blood  that  must 
be  made,  before  the  insulted  Union  flag  could  wave  again  above 
the  reddened  field. 

In  less  than  thirty  days  after  this  speech,  so  touching  to 
soldierly  pride,  the  looked-for  order  came,  the  camp  was 
deserted,  adieus  were  said,  and  the  brave  boys  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont,  with  cheers  of  loved  ones  ringing  in  their  ears,  were 
hurrying  to  the  front  as  fast  as  steam  and  wind  could  carry 
them ;  storm-blast  and  snow-bank  were  exchanged  for  tropic 
sunshine,  and  a  life  of  waiting  for  the  excitement  and  peril  of 
real  conflict. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1862,  the  whistle  blew,  and  a  long 
train  rolled  away  from  the  station  at  Brattleboro,  bearing  the 
regiment  and  the  First  Battery  to  tide-water,  while  hundreds  of 
assembled  friends  and  citizens  waved  back  their  signals  of  fare 
well,  as  the  space  widened  between  them  and  the  dear  faces 
they  might  never  look  upon  again. 

The  regiment    left  the  state  with  the  following  roster  of 

FIELD  AND  STAFF  OFFICERS  : 

STEPHEN  THOMAS Colonel. 

E.  M.  BROWN Lieutenant  Colonel. 

CHARLES  DILLINGHAM Major. 

JOHN  L.  BARSTOW Adjutant. 

FRED  E.  SMITH Quartermaster. 

GEORGE  F.  GALE Surgeon. 

H.  H.  GlLLETT Ass't  Surgeon. 

REV.  FRANCIS  C.  WILLIAMS Chaplain. 


24  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF : 

GEORGE  N.  CARPENTER Sergeant  Major. 

J.  ELLIOT  SMITH Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

LEWIS  CHILD Commissary  Sergeant, 

GERSHOM  H.  FLAGG «  .    Drum  Major. 

DR.  S.  H.  CURRIER Hospital  Steward. 

LINE    OFFICERS: 

L.  M.  GROUT Captain.  ) 

MOSES  McFARLAND First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  A. 

G.  S.  RAND Second  Lieutenant.  ; 

C.  B.  CHILD Captain.  ) 

STEPHEN  F.  SPALDING First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  B. 

FRED  D.  BUTTERFIELD       ....  Second  Lieutenant.  ) 

HENRY  E.  FOSTER Captain,  i 

E.  B.  WRIGHT First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  C. 

F.  J.  FULLER Second  Lieutenant.  ) 

C.  B.  LEACH          Captain.  ) 

A.  E.  GETCHELL First  Lieutenant.  \  Company  D. 

.D.  G.  CHILD Second  Lieutenant.  ) 

EDWARD  HA  LI Captain.  ) 

KILBURN  DAY        First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  E. 

T.  B.  KELLOGG Second  Lieutenant.  ) 

HIRAM  E.  PERKINS         Captain.  ) 

D.  S.  FOSTER First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  F. 

C.  H.  NASON Second  Lieutenant.} 

S.  G.  P.  CRAIG        Captain.  ) 

J.  W.  GREEN First  Lieutenant.**  Company  G. 

JOHN  B.  MEAD        Second  Lieutenant.} 

H.  F.  DUTTON Captain.  ) 

A.  B.  FRANKLIN          First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  H. 

W.  H.  H.  HOLTON Second  Lieutenant.  ) 

W.  W.  LYNDE         Captain.  ) 

G.  N.  HOLLAND      .               ....     First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  I. 
J.C.MoRSE Second  Lieutenant.} 

JOHN  S.  CLARK .     Captain.  ) 

A.J.HOWARD        First  Lieutenant.  >  Company  K. 

G.  F.  FRENCH         Second  Lieutenant.  1 


GOING    TO    THE    FRONT. 

The  route  of  the  train  which  bore  the  regiment  southward 
lay  all  that  day  in  the  picturesque  valley  of  the  "  winding  and 
willow-fringed"  Connecticut,  opening  its  rugged  arms  in  wide 
and  wider  levels  of  fertile  meadow,  from  the  point  where  it 
enters  the  Bay  State  to  the  coast  where  the  sea  receives  it. 
White  gleamed  the  lessening  peaks  of  their  native  hills  as  the 


THE    CONNECTICUT    VALLEY.  2$ 

gallant  sons  of  Vermont  were  rapidly  whirled  beyond  eye-reach 
of  outlines  long  familiar,  and  dearer  than  all  others,  even  when 
clad  in  an  envelope  of  snow  ;  but  the  winter  glories  of  the 
richest  valley  in  New  England  allured  them  with  a  long  pan 
orama  of  swimming  river  skirted  with  ragged  sheets  of  ice,  the 
guard  of  eternal  hills  standing  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left, 
the  snug  villages  and  occasional  city  with  roofs  and  steeples 
flashing  back  the  icy  sunbeams.  Calmly  old  Tom  and  Holyoke 
gazed  down  upon  them  as  they  passed,  and  said,  "Two  genera 
tions  have  lived  since  the  Deerfield  massacre,  and  your  hot 
blood  will  cool  soon  enough.  Lo !  we  watch  out  the  ages." 
The  waters  pulsing  athwart  the  dam  that  turns  the  mighty 
current  upon  the  laboring  wheels  of  Holyoke  mills,  gave  a 
leap  as  the  freight  of  consecrated  patriots  hastened  past  to  save 
the  honor  of  the  nation  ;  and  no  object  in  nature,  except  the 
cold  lips  of  the  heartless  ocean,  failed  to  respond  that  day  to  a 
touch  of  the  loftiest  sentiment  that  has  ever  swayed  the  hearts 
of  men. 

All  along  the  lines  of  the  railroad  over  which  they  traversed, 
their  coming  had  been  anticipated,  and  often  as  the  train  neared 
a  village  or  a  solitary  neighborhood  of  farmhouses,  signals  of 
encouragement  and  miniature  flags  were  displayed,  in  token  of 
a  hearty  God-speed  from  all  the  inmates.  A  halt  was  made  at 
Northampton,  where  a  burst  of  enthusiasm  was  excited  by  the 
exhibition  of  a  rebel  flag  which  a  Massachusetts  regiment 
serving  in  North  Carolina  had  captured  and  sent  home.  On 
reaching  Springfield  the  migrating  boys  in  blue  were  tendered 
a  warm  reception  by  the  assembled  citizens,  and  entertained 
with  generous  refreshment,  prepared  and  served  by  the  ladies 
of  the  city ;  and  as  the  train  moved  on  again  a  thousand  loyal 
voices  shouted  their  thanks  and  farewells  to  the  parting  crowd. 

The  low  sun  had  set  and  it  was  twilight  when  the  train 
reached  the  wharf  at  New  Haven,  where  the  steamer  Granite 
State  lay  waiting  to  receive  the  soldiers  on  board.  Men  and 
baggage  were  transferred  to  the  boat,  the  giant  engine  took  its 
turn  at  the  laboring  oar,  and  the  weary  men,  after  a  sound 
night's  sleep,  woke  up  in  full  view  of  New  York.  As  the 


26  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Sound  steamer  neared  the  dock  two  staunch  sailing  vessels,  the 
James  Hovey  and  the  Wallace,  were  seen  at  anchor  in  East 
river,  which  the  regiment  learned  were  prepared  to  take  them 
to  sea,  they  knew  not  whither.  As  soon  «as  a  landing  was 
made  a  detail  of  men  was  left  to  transfer  the  baggage  to  these 
vessels,  and  the  regiment,  refreshed  and  in  excellent  spirits, 
marched  to  City  Hall  park  and  were  served  with  morning 
rations.  During  the  day  they  were  greeted  by  a  large  number 
of  sons  of  Vermont  resident  in  the  city,  and  in  the  afternoon 
six  companies  of  the  regiment  were  ordered  on  board  the 
Hovey,  while  the  remaining  four  with  the  First  Vermont 
Battery  were  bestowed  on  the  Wallace.  Before  going  aboard, 
however,  the  resident  Vermonters  requested  Col.  Thomas  to 
march  the  regiment  up  town,  where  they  proposed  to  tender 
their  soldier  brothers  a  collation,  but  it  was  impracticable ;  and 
in  the  evening  the  colonel  and  his  staff,  with  the  line  officers, 
accepted  an  invitation  to  an  elegant  banquet  at  the  Metropolitan 
Hotel,  in  the  course  of  which  ringing  patriotic  speeches  were 
made  by  Hon.  E.  W.  Stoughton,  Col.  Frank  E.  Howe,  and 
other  citizens  of  New  York,  and  also  by  Col.  Thomas  in  behalf 
of  his  regiment.  This  kindly  courtesy  tendered  by  personal 
friends  on  the  eve  of  their  departure  to  engage  in  the  perilous 
work  before  them,  was  deeply  appreciated  by  the  officers,  and 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  survivors  of  the  regiment.  Col. 
Thomas,  Major  Dillingham,  Assistant  Surgeon  Gillett,  and 
Quartermaster  Smith,  accompanied  the  troops  on  the  Hovey, 
and  Lieut.  Col.  Brown,  Adjutant  Barstow,  and  Surgeon  Gale, 
those  on  the  Wallace. 

It  was  regarded  as  a,  critical  time  for  such  craft  as  the 
Hovey  and  Wallace  to  put  to  sea,  on  account  of  the  danger  to 
be  apprehended  from  Confederate  gun-boats.  It  was  known 
that  the  rebel  iron-clad  Merrimac  was  already  equipped  for  the 
work  of  destruction  in  Atlantic  waters,  and  sent  out  specially 
to  prey  upon  Federal  commerce,  and  menace  the  Union  navy. 
There  were  many  fearful  stories  current  about  the  formidable 
character  of  this  vessel,  and  the  intention  of  the  Confederate 
government  to  send  her  up  the  northern  coast  to  destroy  loyal 


UNDER  SEALED  ORDERS.  27 

cities  and  shipping.  What  if  the  defenceless  sailing  vessels 
that  bore  the  Eighth  Regiment  should  chance  to  encounter 
this  terrible  monster  on  the  high  seas,  was  a  question  to  make 
the  timid  turn  pale,  especially  as  they  had  not  even  ammuni 
tion  for  their  rifles.  Indeed,  so  strong  a  hold  had  this  idea 
taken  of  the  public  mind,  that  Col.  Thomas  was  repeatedly 
warned  against  exposing  his  men  to  the  threatened  danger ; 
even  Governor  Seymour  protested  that  it  was  unsafe  for  him  to 
venture  out  without  suitable  convoys  to  resist  the  enemy  in 
case  of  attack.  But  the  brave  commander  met  all  such  objec 
tions  with  the  reply  that  he  had  orders  to  sail  ;  and,  like  a  good 
soldier,  he  should  obey  them,  leaving  the  responsibility  where 
it  belonged.  Accordingly,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Qth  instant, 
the  Hovey  and  the  Wallace  swung  into  the  stream  and  were 
towed  down  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  they  were  anchored  for  the 
night,  and  made  ready  to  put  to  sea  early  the  following  morn 
ing.  Meanwhile  the  men  were  busy  writing  farewell  letters 
home,  and  there  was  no  little  solicitude  about  their  destination, 
for  they  sailed  under  sealed  orders,  which  could  not  be  opened 
until  the  ships  had  passed  out  of  sight  of  land. 

There  is  very  little  that  admits  of  extended  description  in 
this  voyage  down  a  boisterous  coast  at  that  most  inclement 
season  of  the  year.  Nearly  the  entire  passage  was  tediously 
rough,  and  the  men,  most  of  whom  were  never  afloat  on  salt 
water  before,  were  prostrated  with  seasickness.  Both  vessels 
were  blown  many  miles  out  of  their  course  by  a  heavy  and 
protracted  gale,  and  parted  company  before  the  first  night 
closed  in  upon  them.  On  breaking  the  seal  it  was  found  that 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to  Brig.  Gen.  Phelps,  at 
Ship  Island,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  that  the  first  land  seen 
after  Sandy  Hook  disappeared  from  view  was  the  Florida  coast. 
The  daily  experience  on  board  these  crafts  included  the  many 
discomforts  incident  to  an  over-crowded  cabin,  a  stormy  pas 
sage,  and  general  prostration.  Nothing  was  seen  of  the  for 
midable  Merrimac,  and  only  once,  near  the  end  of  the  voyage, 
did  anything  occur  to  arouse  the  slightest  fear  of  attack.  One 
day  a  steamer  was  sighted  on  the  horizon,  apparently  bearing 


28  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

down  upon  the  Hovey,  which  brought  the  New  York  rumors  so 
forcibly  to  mind  that  a  sensible  quiver  of  trepidation  seized  upon 
the  nerves  of  some  of  the  half-exhausted  men ;  but  the  captain 
ran  up  his  flag,  and  soon  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  stars  and 
stripes  displayed  from  the  approaching  gun-boat.  Both  ships 
weathered  Key  West  on  the  first  day  of  April,  and  twenty-seven 
days  after  leaving  Sandy  Hook,  the  Hovey  arrived  at  Ship 
Island,  and  there  was  great  cheering  among  the  boys  when,  a 
few  hours  later,  the  Wallace  hove  in  sight  and  dropped  anchor 
beside  her.  Inquiry  showed  that,  barring  sea  sickness,  the  pas 
sengers  on  the  former  vessel  had  enjoyed  excellent  health  ;  but 
several  men  on  the  Wallace  were  quite  ill  during  the  voyage,  and 
one  of  their  number,  Enos  L.  Davis,  of  Company  I,  died  and 
was  buried  at  sea  with  the  customary  service. 

Ship  Island,  on  which  the  Eighth  Regiment  made  its  first 
landing,  is  simply  a  bar  or  mound  of  clean  white  sand  rising 
out  of  the  northern  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  nearly  the 
same  latitude  as  New  Orleans,  and  northeast  of  the  deltas  of 
the  Mississippi.  It  is  about  seven  miles  in  length  and  from 
half  a  mile  to  a  mile  in  width.  Most  of  this  sandy  area  is  bare 
of  vegetation,  though'  there  is  a  small  growth  of  timber  at  the 
eastern  extremity,  and  wild  grass  covers  some  of  the  depres 
sions  or  basins  here  and  there  on  the  general  surface.  The 
surface  is  low,  and  during  the  prevalence  of  very  high  tides  or 
severe  and  protracted  storms,  the  sea  has  been  known  to  break 
over  the  entire  island. 

From  this  description  it  would  not  seem  to  be  a  place 
peculiarly  fitted  for  a  'military  camp,  but  just  the  reverse. 
Gen.  Butler,  however,  found  it  better  suited  to  his  purposes  at 
that  time  than  any  other  he  could  command,  and  had  fixed  his 
headquarters  on  the  highest  ground  it  contained.  A  force  of 
soldiers  could  easily  be  provisioned  there  from  the  Federal 
transports,  and  as  to  water,  it  was  only  necessary  to  sink  a 
barrel  into  the  sand  to  obtain  an  ample  supply  that  was  fresh 
and  sweet.  But,  as  it  happened,  the  Eighth  Regiment  had 
scarcely  pitched  their  tents  before  a  storm  set  in  which  proved 


ON   SHIP    ISLAND. 


29 


to  be  one  of  the  most  terrific  that  had  visited  the  place  for 
many  years.  One  half  the  bar  was  soon  submerged,  and  the  spot 
on  which  the  men  had  chosen  to  bivouac  was  swept  by  the 
in-rolling  seas,  and  the  soldiers  were  forced  to  retreat  with  all 
their  belongings  from  point  to  point,  before  an  advancing  foe 
which  cared  no  more  for  their  guns  and  bayonets  than  did  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  for  Mrs.  Partington's  broom.  Several  members 
of  a  Western  regiment  encamped  hard  by  were  killed  by  the 
sharp  lightning,  and  there  was  grave  reason  to  fear  that,  if  the 
storm  lasted  twenty-four  hours  longer,  the  entire  army  would 
be  swept  into  the  sea,  to  meet  the  same  inglorious  fate  that 
threatened  the  fleet  of  yEneas,  when  pursued  by  jealous  Juno. 

As  soon  as  its  quarters  were  permanently  fixed,  the  regiment 
resumed  daily -drill  in  military  movements.  There  were  then 
eighteen  thousand  troops  on  the  island,  and  on  the  ninth  day 
of  April  Gen.  Butler  ordered  them  all  out  for  inspection  and 
review.  This  was  the  first  grand  parade  in  which  the  Eighth 
Regiment  had  ever  participated,  and  the  march  and  counter 
march  along  the  shore  gave  the  new  recruits  some  idea  of  the 
manoeuvring  of  large  bodies  of  soldiers. 

The  sojourn  on  Ship  Island  was  on  the  whole  monotonous, 
although  the  movements  of  the  gun-boats,  and  the  occasional 
arrival  of  a  prize  ship,  captured  while  attempting  to  run  the 
blockade,  afforded  some  diversion  ;  and  one  day  a  squad  of 
Confederate  prisoners,  the  first  the  Vermont  boys  had  seen,  were 
landed  on  the  island,  where  they  underwent  a  very  rigid  inspec 
tion  by  hundreds  of  curious  eyes.  It  was  true,  of  course,  that 
a  live  rebel  was  only  a  Southern  citizen  dressed  in  Confederate 
gray ;  but  somehow  the  Green  Mountain  boys,  in  spite  of  that 
fact,  gorgonized  the  captives  as  though  they  had  been  as  many 
ferocious  cannibals  from  the  South  Pacific,  or  specimens  of  the 
strange  beings  whom  Baron  Munchausen  encountered  during 
his  famous  adventures  in  foreign  lands. 

Gen.  Phelps,  who  had  been  in  "command  of  the  troops  on  the 
island  before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Butler,  was  from  Vermont, 
and  went  out  with  the  First  Regiment,  who  were  ninety-days 
men.  Many  of  them,  by  the  way,  re-enlisted  in  the  Seventh  and 


30  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Eighth,  and  were  pleased  on  reaching  Ship  Island  to  find 
themselves  again  under  their  old  commander.  Gen.  Phelps 
was  a  man  of  great  integrity  and  simplicity  of  character,  whose 
straightforward  honesty  was  only  equalled  *by  his  disgust  for 
display  and  shams.  One  incident  will  illustrate  this  pecu 
liarity. 

A  regiment  of  New  York  zouaves  had  landed  on  the  island, 
and  as  the  general  was  sauntering  thoughtfully  along  one  morn 
ing  a  young  officer  in  fantastic  uniform  saluted  him.  Gen. 
Phelps  turned  and  surveyed  him  with  apparent  surprise,  and 
asked  curtly : 

"  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  zouave." 

"  What  is  that  ?  " 

"  An  officer  of  a  zouave  regiment,  sir." 

"  An  officer !     I  thought  you  were  a  circus  clown." 

A  temporary  device  for  relieving  the  tedium  of  this  insular  life 
was  the  issuing  and  reading  of  a  small  newspaper,  called  the 
News  Letter.  The  regiment  brought  among  the  baggage  a  com 
plete  printing-press,  and  when  Gen.  Butler  was  apprised  of  the 
fact,  although  it  seemed  to  be  a  rather  singular  engine  of  war, 
he  ordered  it  to  be  set  up,  and  put  in  order  for  use.  Private 
Eastman,  of  Company  K,  who  was  a  practical  printer,  took 
charge  of  the  business,  and  established  his  printing-office  near 
the  headquarters  of  Col.  Thomas,  and  thenceforward  published 
the  orders  as  they  were  issued,  in  due  and  regular  fashion. 

Thus  far  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  taken  no  part  in  the  great 
national  struggle.  Theirs  had  been  the  negative  duty  of  getting 
ready  for  action  and  waiting  for  a  summons.  But  the  time  was 
close  at  hand  when  they  must  join  their  comrades  in  the  thick 
of  the  fight,  and  know  what  it  meant  to  be  under  fire.  Capt. 
Porter's  mortar-boats  had  anchored  below  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip,  and  Farragut's  gun-boats  were  in  position,  when  on 
the  eighteenth  of  April,  the  sound  of  heavy  cannonading  to  the 
westward  apprised  the  camp  at  Ship  Island  that  the  bombard 
ment  had  begun  that  was  soon  to  open  the  Mississippi  for  the 


A    FIGHT   FOR    ENTRANCE.  3! 

free  entrance  of  the  Union  navy.  For  three  successive  days 
the  fleet  pounded  away  at  the  fortresses  guarding  the  water 
approaches  to  New  Orleans,  and  then  Capt.  Farragut  called 
together  his  captains  for  consultation,  and  it  was  determined 
that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  run  past  the  forts.  It  was 
an  exploit  full  of  difficulty  and  danger,  and  the  chief  hope  of 
success  lay  in  taking  advantage  of  the  opportune  moment,  and 
pushing  up  the  river  with  rapidity  and  caution  ;  for  no  one  on 
board  knew  what  obstacles  they  would  have  to  encounter,  or 
what  snares  the  enemy  had  prepared  for  them.  But  the  hand 
of  present  duty  pointed  northward,  and,  the  orders  being  given, 
preparations  were  quickly  made.  Shortly  after  one  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth  instant  the  signal  for  action 
was  heard,  and  in  the  course  of  the  next  two  hours  the  fleet  was 
in  motion.  The  fight  that  ensued  was  a  desperate  one,  but  in 
due  time  Farragut's  flag-ship  Hartford  and  nine  other  boats 
passed  up  and  out  of  range  of  the  guns  of  the  forts,  when  they 
immediately  encountered  a  fleet  of  a  dozen  Confederate  gun 
boats,  and  a  sharp  engagement  took  place. 

The  plucky  Union  captain  was  victor,  as  all  the  world 
knows,  and  passed  on  up  the  channel  of  the  river,  meeting 
with  no  further  resistance  until  he  reached  Chalmette,  about 
three  miles  below  New  Orleans.  Here  land-batteries  sta 
tioned  on  each  bank  of  the  stream  opened  fire  upon  the 
fleet ;  but  after  a  short  engagement  their  guns  were  silenced, 
and  Farragut  pushed  on  again.  Above  this  point  -the  gun 
boats  ran  among  vessels  freighted  with  burning  cotton  and 
boats  loaded  with  timber  all  ablaze,  which  the-  disconsolate 
enemy  sent  down  upon  them.  But  these  obstacles  did  not 
hinder  a  fleet  that  had  just  run  a  gauntlet  of  shot  and  shell, 
and  about  noon,  during  a  violent  thunder-storm,  the  defi 
ant  people  of  the  Crescent  City  were  astonished  to  see  the 
Yankee  boats  drop  anchor  in  their  harbor.  But  the  Confederate 
troops,  persuaded  that  they  could  no  longer  hold  the  position, 
had  set  fire  to  the  shipping  and  wharves,  stores  of  goods,  and 
other  combustibles,  and  fled  from  the  city  ;  so  that  for  miles  the 
approach  of  the  Union  vessels  was  between  parallel  lines  of 


32  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

blaze  and  smoke.  New  Orleans,  therefore,  offered  no  armed 
resistance  to  the  entrance  of  the  marines,  and  the  next  day 
Capt.  Bell,'  with  a  detachment  of  a  hundred  men,  went  ashore 
and  raised  the  American  flag  above  the  United  States  mint. 

After  Farragut  had  passed  up  the  river,  Capt.  Porter  contin 
ued  to  bombard  the  two  forts,  while  Gen.  Butler,  co-operating 
with  him,  threw  a  force  in  the  rear,  bringing  his  guns  also  to 
bear  directly  on  the  strongholds  of  the  enemy.  Unable  to  hold 
out  longer,  and  seeing  no  chance  to  escape,  the  Confederates 
surrendered  to  Capt.  Porter  on  the  2/th  instant,  and  communi 
cation  was  opened  with  Gen.  Butler,  who  immediately  placed  the 
works  in  charge  of  a  garrison  of  his  own  troops.  Then  taking 
two  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battery,  he  steamed  up  the 
river  and  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  first  day  of  May.  There 
Capt.  Farragut  received  his  hearty  congratulations  and  immedi 
ately  turned  over  the  captured  city  to  the  general,  who  went 
ashore  and  established  his  headquarters  at  the  St.  Charles 
Hotel. 

It  was  there  that  Butler  found  the  first  work  for  his  Green 
Mountain  regiment  waiting  on  Ship  Island,  and  orders  were 
sent  for  them  to  break  camp  and  come  to  him  without  delay.  A 
number  of  the  men  were  sick  in  the  hospital  when  the  sum 
mons  was  received,  and  were  left  behind  in  charge  of  Chaplain 
Williams.  Two  had  died,  and  found  their  last  resting-place  in 
the  shifting  sands  of  that  lonely  island.  They  were  Charles  S. 
Lamb,  of  Company  D,  and  Corporal  George  Walker,  of  Com 
pany  G. 

NEW    ORLEANS. 

Once  more  the  Eighth  Regiment  with  the  baggage  were 
crowded  on  board  the  James  Hovey,  and,  after  some  delay  in 
getting  a  tug  to  tow  them  up  the  river,  started  for  New  Orleans. 
Their  progress  inland  was  full  of  excitement  and  delight.  As 
the  ship  slowly  passed  under  the  walls  of  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip,  the  men  were  aware,  of  course,  that  a  stubborn  battle 
had  been  fought  there,  but  could  not  then  realize  that  it  was 


UP    THE    MISSISSIPPI.  33 

the  scene  of  a  naval  achievement  that  made  the  brave  Farragut 
one  of  the  great  heroes  of  history.  Over  the  forts  so  recently 
surmounted  by  Confederate  colors,  the  stars  and  stripes  were 
floating ;  and  the  regiment  gave  them  a  rousing  salute,  which 
was  answered  by  the  garrison.  To  the  untried  soldiers  this  was 
the  gate  of  war,  which  once  passed,  they  felt  assured  that  there 
would  be  no  more  idle  suspense  for  them.  But  the  momentary 
thought  of  what  a  baptism  of  fire  and  blood  might  be  in  store 
for  them  was  quickly  dissipated,  as  the  rich  landscapes  of  lower 
Louisiana  opened  to  their  gaze.  On  either  hand,  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  penetrate,  stretched  the  broad  and  level  country, 
clothed  with  tropical  vegetation,  and  bright  with  spring-time 
colors  ;  the  air  was  fragrant  with  the  odors  of  flowers,  and 
melodious  with  the  songs  of  strange  birds.  The  banks  of  the 
river  were  lined  with  negroes,  staring  in  wide-mouthed  wonder 
at  the  Yankees ;  and  above  the  quarantine  were  extensive 
sugar  plantations,  and  the  houses  of  their  opulent  owners, 
separated  by  a  wide  street  from  the  cabins  of  their  slaves. 
In  the  nearer  view  were  large  magnolia  trees  in  full  bloom, 
and  orange  groves  bearing  tempting  fruit,  while  beyond  stood 
forests  of  live-oak,  weird  and  gray  with  their  long  beards  of 
pendent  moss.  The  water  was  very  high,  and  whenever  the 
channel  lay  near  the  bank,  the  men  discovered  that  they  were 
floating  at  a  level  of  some  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the 
houses  and  gardens  along  the  shore,  which  were  protected  from 
inundation  by  strong  levees. 

The  accommodations  for  officers  on  board  the  vessel  were 
rather  limited,  and  at  dinner  the  table  had  to  be  set  over  two 
or  three  times  before  all  could  be  served.  By  the  time  the 
second  lieutenants  reached  the  table  there  was  a  "  plentiful 
lack"  of  the  viands  they  craved.  Feeling  aggrieved  on  this 
account,  they  assembled  on  deck,  and  held  an  indignation 
meeting,  giving  free  vent  to  their  personal  sentiments  on  the 
subject.  They  also  violated  the  rules  of  propriety  by  singing 
an  old  song,  which  began  : 

"  In  yonder  stall  there  lies  a  mule, 

We  picked  his  eyes  out  one  by  one.v 
3 


34  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Considerable  amusement  was  caused  by  the  singing ;  but  when 
the  indignant  officers  sent  a  committee  of  complaint  to  Col. 
Thomas,  he  reprimanded  them  for  their  conduct,  and  directed 
them  to  make  no  further  disturbance.  • 

Passing  Chalmette,  where  Gen.  Jackson  won  an  important  vic 
tory  over  the  British,  in  the  war  of  1812,  the  men  were  on  the 
qui  vive  for  their  first  sight  of  the  Crescent  City,  whose  smould 
ering  wharves  still  sent  up  a  cloud  of  smoke  in  the  distance. 
It  was  a  moment  of  intense  excitement  when  the  Hovey  reached 
New  Orleans,  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the.  i2th  instant ;  nor  did 
it  abate,  when,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  the  men  were 
ordered  ashore,  to  find  the  strange  streets  crowded  with  people, 
going  hither  and  thither  in  aimless  confusion. 

The  chivalry  of  the  South  was  full  of  defiant  hatred  of  the 
northern  invaders,  and  the  disappointed  citizens  expressed  the 
intense  bitterness  of  their  feelings  in  every  conceivable  way. 
Above  the  general  tumult,  as  the  troops  entered  the  streets, 
could  be  heard  the  loud  strains  of  "  Bonny  Blue  Flag,"  and 
other  secession  songs  ;  and  for  a  counter-irritant,  Col.  Thomas 
ordered  his  band  to  strike  up  "  Yankee  Doodle."  After  the  line 
had  been  formed  in  the  street,  orders  were  given  to  load  the 
muskets  in  readiness  for  any  emergency  that  might  arise,  and 
the  regiment  marched  slowly,  without  opposition,  to  the  Union 
Cotton  Press,  where  it  was  quartered  for  the  night.  A  strong 
guard  was  detailed  for  the  neighborhood,  under  strict  orders, 
and  both  officers  and  men  slept  on  their  arms.  To  further 
insure  their  safety,  Col.  Thomas  issued  very  strict  orders 
against  leaving  the  quarters  for  any  purpose,  and,  in  spite 
of  the  various  alluring  'temptations  of  a  great  city,  there  was 
little  disposition  to  disobey  the  recognized  authority.  A  mem 
ber  of  one  of  the  companies,  however,  tried  to  get  outside  by 
running  the  guard,  and  refused  to  stop  when  challenged.  For 
this  piece  of  folly  he  paid  the  penalty  of  his  life, —  the  sentinel 
was  firm  and  fired  upon  him,  inflicting  a  severe  wound  that 
proved  fatal  in  a  short  time.  It  was  a  hard  case,  but  the  stern 
lesson  put  an  end  to  all  attempts  to  run  the  night  guard  ever 
after, 


AX   ANXIOUS    XIGHT.  35 

That  first  night  at  New  Orleans  will  never  be  forgotten. 
The  colonel  was  vigilant ;  the  men  quiet  and  determined ;  the 
sentinels  were  on  the  alert ;  and  every  precaution  was  taken 
against  being  surprised  by  an  armed  force  or  a  city  mob.  The 
enforcement  of  strict  military  discipline  was  no  longer  a  sham 
practice,  and  the  peace-loving  sons  of  Vermont  began  to  realize 
that  they  were  now  in  an  enemy's  country,  where  no  one  could 
be  trusted, —  the  objects  of  murderous  hate  in  a  strange  city,  and 
liable  at  any  moment  to  have  to  fight  for  their  lives.  There 
was  very  little  sound  slumber  in  camp  that  night ;  and,  though 
no  disturbance  was  attempted,  the  boys  were  never  more  glad 
for  the  sweet  daylight  than  when  the  next  morning  dawned 
upon  their  anxious  eyes. 

After  the  regiment  had  established  itself  in  permanent 
quarters  at  the  Mechanics'  Institute  building,  and  the  members 
began  to  appear  in  public,  and  pass  to  and  fro  in  the  discharge 
of  their  assigned  duties,  the  bitter  hatred  which  their  presence 
aroused  in  the  hearts  of  the  citizens  began  to  show  itself  in 
numberless  ways.  People  watched  their  movements  with 
inexpressible  disgust,  and  cast  upon  them  frowns  of  intense 
malignity  whenever  they  passed.  There  was  murder  in  their 
defiant  eyes,  but  evidently  they  did  not  dare  to  attempt  any 
acts  of  personal  violence  against  the  boys  in  blue.  The 
instructions  given  the  troops  by  General  Butler  in  regard  to 
their  bearing  towards  civilians  were  very  rigid.  They  were 
to  avoid  as  far  as  possible  whatever  would  provoke  their 
passions ;  they  must  pass  through  the  streets  in  silence,  take 
no  offence  at  threats  and  insults,  and  if  fired  upon  simply  cause 
the  arrest  of  the  guilty  parties  ;  privates  must  be  respectful, 
and  no  officer  was  permitted  to  appear  on  the  street  alone, 
or  without  side  arms.  These  wise  and  humane  restrictions 
were  often  very  galling  to  the  pride  of  the  independent  sons  of 
New  England,  and  it  would  not  be  a  surprising  thing  if,  under 
the  pressure  of  repeated  .  provocation,  resentment  sometimes 
got  the  better  of  prudence,  and  the  loyal  soldiers  became 
exasperated.  The  situation  also  imposed  on  the  boys  a  severe 
test  of  vigilance.  Not  knowing  the  full  strength  of  the  enemy, 


36  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

or  what  expedients  the  maddened  citizens  might  devise  to 
wreak  vengeance  on  the  detested  "  Yanks,"  it  was  necessary  to 
be  constantly  on  the  alert  lest  the  smothered  fires  of  revolt 
should  burst  forth  in  riot  and  violence.  Consequently  every 
thing  must  be  kept  in  readiness  for  instant  action,  and  night 
after  night  the  men  slept  on  their  arms. 

Then,  too,  the  air  was  full  of  wild  rumors,  which  contained 
no  one  could  tell  how  much  truth.  It  was  said  that  Gen. 
Lovell,  who  had  evacuated  the  city  on  the  approach  of  Far- 
ragut's  fleet,  would  soon  return  with  a  strong  reinforcement 
and  capture  the  city.  In  the  same  connection  it  was  asserted 
that  all  the  able-bodied  citizens  were  secretly  drilling  in  the 
use  of  fire-arms,  and  would  co-operate  with  Lovell's  troops 
whenever  he  should  appear ;  in  this  case,  of  course,  it  would  be 
easy  to  destroy  the  Union  vessels  lying  in  the  harbor,  and  thus 
cut  off  all  hope  of  retreat,  while  the  Confederate  soldiers  over 
whelmed  Gen.  Butler  with  superior  numbers  and  made  his  men 
prisoners  of  war.  Wrought  upon  by  these  and  like  rumors,  it 
was  easy  for  the  Union  soldier,  as  he  passed  from  place  to  place 
executing  the  commands  that  devolved  upon  him,  to  imagine 
he  saw  treachery  lurking  in  the  eyes  of  every  haughty  South- 
erner  he  met,  and  that  some  subtle  strategy  was  about  to 
make  him  its  victim. 

But  the  descendants  of  Ethan  Allen,  if  they  had  not  then 
seen  service  of  any  very  serious  character,  had  learned  one 
lesson  pretty  thoroughly,  which  was  that  it  is  not  a  soldier's 
business  to  reason  why,  or  to  make  reply  ;  but  simply  to  obey 
orders,  and,  if  his  time  came,  to  die.  They  went  quietly  about 
their  appointed  duty,  and  presently  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
while  they  remained  in  the  city,  they  were  not  very  likely 
either  to  be  obliged  to  use  weapons  or  to  perish  by  means  of 
them. 

Police  and  provost  duty  was  the  first  service  outside  the 
camp  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  and  in 
carrying  out  these  necessary  orders  large  details  were  made 
each  morning  to  protect  public  and  private  property,  to  seize 
concealed  arms,  arrest  suspicious  and  disorderly  persons,  and 


ESTABLISHING     TELEGRAPHS.  37 

attend  to  a  great  variety  of  other  duties.  The  military  district 
was  commanded  by  Maj.  Dillingham. 

Gen.  Butler  was  fertile  in  expedients  for  accomplishing  the 
work  which  the  government  had  sent  him  to  do  in  New  Orleans, 
and  it  very  soon  occurred  to  him  to  utilize  the  telegraph  lines  in 
and  about  the  city  for  the  benefit  of  his  military  operations. 
These  were  in  a  demoralized  condition,  like  everything  else 
that  would  be  apt  to  afford  aid  and  comfort  to  the  detested 
Yankees.  The  Confederates,  before  evacuating  the  city,  had 
destroyed  or  secreted  the  apparatus  of  the  telegraph  offices, 
cut  wires,  and  done  all  that  lay  in  their  power  to  render  the 
lines  inoperative. 

But  with  his  wonted  energy,  the  general  determined  to  have 
the  system  in  working  order,  and  caused  inquiry  to  be  made 
among  the  regiments  for  a  soldier  whose  ability  and  experience 
would  qualify  him  to  take  charge  of  the  telegraph  offices  and 
lines.  The  result  was  that  Quartermaster  Sergeant  J.  Elliot 
Smith,  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  was  ascertained  to  be  a  suitable 
person;  and  by  order  of  Gen.  Butler,  issued  May  I7th,  he  was 
made  a  lieutenant  on  his  staff,  and  appointed  military  superin 
tendent  of  all  the  telegraph  lines  running  from  New  Orleans, 
and  charged  with  the  duty  of  putting  all  the  lines  in  order,  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment. 

Lieut.  Smith  was  a  young  man  of  marked  ability  and  energy, 
and  set  about  the  work  to  which  he  had  been  assigned  with 
great  vigor.  He  was  allowed  a  detail  of  about  forty  men  to 
assist  him,  among  whom  were  the  following  from  his  own  regi 
ment  :  George  C.  Bates,  George  W.  Packard,  Henry  C.  Sher 
man,  B.  H.  Upham,  Wm.'A.  Tinker,  Frederick  Wild,  William 
Kinsley,  and  Rufus  Kinsley.  But  as  this  force  included  no 
trained  operators,  he  was  obliged  to  open  a  school  of  telegraphy 
and  instruct  them. 

The  first  lines  put  in  order  were  those  running  from  the 
city  to  Camp  Parapet ;  to  Milnburg  on  Lake  Pontchartrain  ;  to 
the  passes  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  the  quarantine  sta 
tion,  and  Eorts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  ;  to  Berwick  Bay  and 
Thibodeaux ;  to  Rigolets  ;  and  to  Donaldsonville. 


38  THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 

On  the  23d  instant,  Gen.  Weitzel  appointed  Smith  superin 
tendent  of  the  fire  alarm  telegraph  of  the  city,  in  addition 
to  the  office  he  already  held.  After  the  promotion  of  Quar 
termaster  Sergeant  J.  Elliot  Smith,  Wnt.  H.  Gilmore  was 
appointed  to  that  position. 

During  the  first  week  that  the  Union  troops  occupied  the 
city,  the  people  showed  their  animus  by  closing  the  stores  and 
other  public  places  against  the  wearers  of  the  blue  ;  but  the 
desire  for  trade  and  gain  presently  unlocked  their  doors  again. 
At  first,  when  a  Union  soldier  ordered  refreshments  at  any  of 
the  restaurants,  and  offered  a  greenback  in  payment  therefor,  it 
was  refused  by  the  indignant  proprietor,  who  declared  he  would 
take  nothing  but  coin  or  Confederate  money.  This  exhibition 
of  southern  venom  was  also  short-lived  ;  for  when  the  rebel 
troops  failed  to  reappear,  and  it  was  found  that  the  Yankees  had 
come  to  stay,  Confederate  scrip  was  at  a  discount,  and  traders 
were  glad  to  take  any  kind  of  Uncle  Sam's  money  at  par.  One 
day  Quartermaster  Smith  came  upon  a  resident  of  the  city  who 
had  been  a  native  of  Vermont  and  an  intimate  friend  of  his 
during  their  boyhood.  But  so  strong  was  the  sectional  feeling 
entertained  by  this  "northern-born  Southerner,""  that  he  re 
fused  to  renew  the  old  friendship  under  the  circumstances  ;  but 
said  :  "  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  if  you  come  in  citizen's 
dress." 

But  the  prejudice  of  the  male  population  did  not  express 
itself  in  so  many  spiteful  ways  as  did  that  of  the  southern 
women.  In  them  the  spirit  of  hostility  knew  no  bounds,  aad 
they  improved  every  chance  that  offered  to  insult  and  abuse 
the  northern  soldiers.  '  They  wore'  small  confederate  flags 
fastened  conspicuously  to  their  dresses,  or  waved  them  in  their 
hands  in  public  places  ;  if  a  Union  officer  entered  a  street  car 
containing  southern  women,  they  would  rise  and  leave  it  ;  and 
to  avoid  meeting  soldiers  on  the  sidewalk,  they  would  step  into 
the  street,  and  show  their  intense  hatred  by  every  look  and  act. 
A  southern  lady,  for  example,  dropped  a  delicate  lace  handker 
chief,  as  she  entered  a  street  car.  A  Union  officer  picked  it 
up  and  politely  offered  it  to  her,  but  she  refused  to  take  it, 


ORDER    XO.    28.  39 

and  withdrawing  herself  with  a  look  of  bitter  scorn,  said  : 
"  I  would  never  receive  it  after  being  contaminated  by  your 
touch."  The  officer,  without  replying,  raised  the  car  window 
and  dropped  the  offending  scrap  of  embroidery  into  the  street. 
All  this  hostility  and  evil  treatment  the  Vermont  boys  bore 
with  commendable  patience,  winning  thereby  the  approval  of 
their  commander ;  and  it  was  not  until  one  of  these  women  so 
far  forgot  her  ladyhood,  not  to  say  her  sense  of  decency,  that 
she  spat  in  the  faces  of  two  Federal  officers  who  were  quietly 
walking  along  the  street,  that  Gen.  Butler  issued  the  famous 
order,  of  which  the  following  is  a  transcript : 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF. 

NEW  ORLEANS,  May  15,  1862. 

General  Order  No.  28. —  As  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  United  States 
have  been  subject  to  repeated  insults  from  the  women  (calling  themselves 
ladies)  of  New  Orleans,  in  return  for  the  most  scrupulous  non-interference 
and  courtesy  on  their  part,  it  is  ordered  that  hereafter,  when  any  female 
shall  by  word,  gesture,  or  movement,  insult  or  show  contempt  for  any  officer 
or  soldier  of  the  United  States,  she  shall  be  regarded  and  held  liable  to  be 
treated  as  a  woman  of  the  town  plying  her  avocation. 

By  command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  BUTLER. 
GEORGE  C.  STRONG, 

Ass't  Adjutant  General,  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

The  effect  of  this  much-criticised  order  was  precisely  what 
its  author  desired.  The  forbidden  outrages  ceased,  there  was 
an  end  of  insults  to  Union  soldiers,  and  it  proved  very  useful 
as  one  means  of  restoring  quiet  to  the  city. 


JI. 


ALGIERS. 

AFTER  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  spent  about  a  month  in  New 
Orleans,  Col.  Thomas  received  orders  to  transfer  his  regi 
ment  across  the  river  and  relieve  the  Twenty-first  Indiana, 
commanded  by  Col.  McMillan  at  Algiers.  Leaving  Company 
D  behind  as  a  provost  guard  for  the  city,  the  colonel  complied 
with  his  instructions,  and  on  the  3ist  of  May,  1862,  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  at  the  old  Algiers  depot ;  and,  as  there 
were  no  other  troops  stationed  on  that  side  of  the  river,  he 
'assumed  command  of  the  district,  and  acted  in  a  semi-civil  as 
well  as  military  capacity.  Under  this  authority  Col.  Thomas 
began  to  prosecute  the  work  before  him  with  characteristic 
vigor.  Capt.  Charles  B.  Child,  of  Company  B,  was  appointed 
provost  marshal,  and  pickets  were  thrown  out  as  far  as  La 
Fourche  Crossing. 

In  their  retreat  the  Confederate  army  had  destroyed  the  track 
of  the  New  Orleans  and  Opelousas  Railroad,  and  the  colonel  at 
once  called  for  a  force  of  volunteers  to  repair  and  put  it  in 
running  order.  There  happened  to  be  a  number  of  men  in  the 
regiment  who  were  practically  acquainted  with  that  kind  of 
work,  and  by  their  exertions  both  the  road  and  the  rolling 
stock  were  put  in  condition,  so  that  military  trains  began 
to  ply  regularly  between  Algiers  and  La  Fourche.  Civilians 
were  not  allowed  to  use  the  cars,  unless  they  first  obtained 
permission  from  the  proper  authority,  and  a  strong  guard  was 
placed  on  board  of  all  moving  trains,  to  protect  them  against 
sudden  attacks  of  outlaws  and  guerillas,  who  might  be  prowling 


THE    NEGRO    QUESTION.  41 

about  the  unsettled  portions  of  the  route.  Lieut.  Day,  of  Com 
pany  E,  who  was  a  practical  railroad  man,  acted  as  engi 
neer,  and  different  members  of  the  regiment  took  their  turns 
as  conductors. 

The  forces  commanded  by  Gen.  Butler  had  not  been  long 
in  the  service,  before  the  negro  question  was  brought  to  their 
notice  in  a  very  direct  and  forcible  manner.  During  the 
summer  large  numbers  of  blacks,  who  had  run  away  from  their 
masters,  crowded  into  the  camps  and  craved  protection.  They 
had  very  crude  and  indefinite  notions  of  the  great  struggle  in 
which  the  nation  was-  involved,  ,but  firmly  grasped  the  idea  that 
uMassa"  Lincoln  was  the  God-sent  Moses,  who  was  to  deliver 
their  race  from  bondage,  and  that  escape  into  the  Union  lines 
was  the  first  step  on  the  road  to  freedom.  What  to  do  with 
these  ignorant  masses  that  had  thrown  themselves  upon  the 
soldiers  for  protection,  was  a  perplexing  question.  The  senti 
ment  of  the  regiment  was  not  unanimous.  Part,  recognizing 
human  slavery  as  an  unmitigated  evil,  felt  that  it  would  be 
wrong  under  any  circumstances  to  remand  the  fugitives  back 
into  servitude ;  others  contended  that  a  body  of  troops,  in  the 
discharge  of  their  proper  duties,  could  not  lawfully  interfere 
with  private  property,  or  undertake  to  decide  on  the  justice  of 
an  alleged  owner's  claim.  But  very  naturally  the  sympathies 
of  the  soldiers  prompted  them  to  render  every  reasonable  aid 
to  any  colored  brother  whom  they  found  groping  his  way  to 
freedom  ;  and  when  the  Eighth  Vermont  found  a  crowd  of 
negroes  upon  their  hands,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  the  men 
could  not  find  it  in  their  hearts  to  comply  with  the  orders  of 
the  war  department,  in  force  at  that  time,  and  return  the  help 
less  fugitives  to  their  masters. 

To  illustrate  the  prevailing  state  of  feeling  in  the  ranks : 
One  day  a  negro,  who  had  escaped  from  a  plantation  down 
the  river,  came  into  camp  and  sought  protection.  He  com 
plained  of  cruel  treatment,  and  showed  the  recent  marks  of  a 
chain  upon  his  ankles,  the  sight  of  which  stirred  the  indignation 
of  the  men.  He  seemed  willing  to  work,  and  one  morning. 


42  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

while  he  was  helping  to  police  the  camp,  his  master  appeared  and 
ordered  him  to  return  to  the  plantation.  This  the  black  man 
refused  to  do,  and  thereupon  the  master  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
heavy  leathern  strap  and  began  to  beat  him*with  it.  The  negro 
ran  and  the  master  pursued,  keeping  close  to  his  heels  and  rain 
ing  blows  upon  him  at  every  step.  This  spectacle  was  more 
than  the  Yankee  boys  could  witness  unmoved,  so  they  too 
joined  in  the  race,  and  every  time  the  master  struck  his  slave 
they  would  give  him  a  kick.  This  treatment  had  the  desired 
effect,  for  the  master,  finding  himself  likely  to  get  badly  worsted 
if  he  continued  to  press  his  claim,  ceased  flogging  the  man  and 
left  the  camp  without  him. 

But  that  was  not  the  end  of  the  matter,  for  Lieut.  Col.  Brown, 
regarding  this  conduct  of  the  men  as  a  grave  breach  of  army 
discipline,  ordered  the  adjutant  to  form  the  regiment  into  line. 
He  then  addressed  some  severe  language  to  the  men,  tel 
ling  them  that  they  "  came  into  the  service  to  obey  orders, 
and  not  to  interfere  with  personal  property,  whether  in  slaves 
or  anything  else."  This  speech  only  intensified  the  feelings  of 
the  men,  and  strengthened  their  resolution  not  to  return  the 
fugitive  slaves.  The  officers  of  the  regiment  were  indignant 
at  this  assumption  of  personal  authority  ;  and,  to  their  credit  as 
men,  Col.  Thomas  and  Adjutant  Barstow,  knowing  the  cause 
of  the  alarm,  remained  in  their  quarters.  The  subject  was 
finally  decided  by  the  proper  authorities  at  Washington,  who 
issued  an  order  forbidding  soldiers  to  return  escaped  slaves,  and 
when  such  fugitives  appeared  in  camp  the  officers  had  no  alter 
native  but  to  provide  for  them. 

But  while  these  instriictions  made  it  plain  enough  what  could 
not  be  done  with  the  contrabands,  it  did  not  dispose  of  the 
question,  how  the  multitudes,  who  were  flocking  into  the  Union 
camps  in  every  quarter  of  the  South,  should  be  provided  for, 
and  the  officers  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  continued  to  have  this 
vexed  problem  thrust  upon  their  attention. 

After  being  at  Algiers  a  few  weeks,  the  number  of  able- 
bodied  men  in  the  regiment  was  much  reduced  by  sickness,  and 
it  became  necessary  to  procure  the  services  of  three  or  four 


THE    XEGRO    QUESTION.  43 

colored  cooks.  For  this  purpose  the  colonel  ordered  that  a 
limited  number  of  negro  candidates  for  the  situations  be  allowed 
to  come  into  camp,  in  order  that  the  places  might  be  filled  by 
selection.  The  matter  soon  became  noised  abroad,  and  on  the 
following  •  Sunday  morning  the  approaches  to  the  camp  were 
found  to  be  full  of  colored  people,  all  desiring  to  offer  their 
services  as  cooks.  On  they  came,  a  miscellaneous  assortment 
of  all  ages  and  sizes,  arriving  in  squads  and  families,  on  foot,  in 
carts,  and  on  mules,  until  the  quarters  were  literally  crowded 
with  negroes,  none  of  whom  had  any  intention  of  returning  to 
the  places  from  whence  they  started.  It  was  a  hard  matter  to 
choose  the  needed  cooks  out  of  such  a  promiscuous  and  sable 
mass,  and  a  still  more  serious  question  with  Col.  Thomas  what 
should  be  done  with  them  all.  One  thing  was  certain,  he  had 
no  means  of  making  suitable  provision  for  them  ;  consequently 
he  resorted  to  a  little  strategy  to  get  them  to  go  aboard  a 
steamer,  and  then  shipped  them  to  Carrolton,  where  they  would 
be  under  the  jurisdiction  and  care  of  Gen.  Phelps.  Having 
disposed  of  the  intruders  and  cleared  the  c.imp,  the  colonel 
congratulated  himself,  as  he  composed  his  limbs  to  rest  that 
night,  on  the  success  of  his  little  scheme.  But  the  next  morn 
ing  another  crowd  of  negroes  began  to  pour  into  camp  about 
sunrise,  and  continued  to  come  until  there  seemed  to  be  no  end 
of  them,  and  again  the  colonel  was  at  his  wits'  end.  The 
crowds  about  the  commissary  quarters  came  to  be  a  great 
nuisance,  and  the  quartermaster  was  exceedingly  troubled  to 
know  who  was  going  to  make  "  provision  returns  "  for  the  camp 
so  suddenly  increased  from  one  thousand  to  three  thousand,  and 
still  increasing.  On  reporting  the  case  to  the  chiefs  of  com 
missary  and  quartermaster's  departments,  this  order  was 
returned:  "Gen.  Butler  orders  that  you  find  them  quarters 
and  give  them  rations  ;  and  when  the  war  is  over  we  will  go 
to  Washington  and  see  to  settling  the  accounts." 

While  pondering  upon  the  case,  and  hesitating  whether  to 
report  it  to  Gen.  Butler  or  take  the  responsibility  upon  his  own 
shoulders,  he  met  Gen.  Weitzel,  and  related  the  case  to  him, 
observing  that  he  had  changed  his  mind  and  was  of  the  opinion 


44  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

that  he  ought  to  utilize  them  in  some  way.  "  You  are  not  the 
only  one,"  replied  the  general,  "who  has  come  to  that  conclu 
sion;"  and  intimated  that  Gen.  Butler  had  modified  his  opinions 
on  that  question.  Encouraged  by  this  cheering  information, 
Col.  Thomas  called  on  his  superior  officer  at  once,  and  laid  the 
matter  before  him.  He  found  Gen.  Butler  disposed  to  take  a 
very  reasonable  view  of  the  case,  and  received  authority  to  feed 
the  black  men,  care  for  their  sick,  and  employ  them  for  any 
service  in  which  they  could  be  made  available. 

Nor  was  the  contraband  question  allowed  to  rest  with  simply 
providing  for  the  necessities  of  the  colored  men.  Gen.  Butler 
was  not  content  until  he  had  solved  the  problem  of  making 
them  a  direct  factor  in  the  work  of  suppressing  the  rebellion. 
With  commendable  forethought  he  cast  about  him  for  a  plausi 
ble  pretext  to  convert  them  into  soldiers,  and  found  an  order 
issued  by  the  Confederate  governor,  and  another  from  Gen. 
Lovell,  for  raising  a  colored  regiment.  He  further  strength 
ened  his  case  by  announcing  that  Gen.  Jackson  authorized 
raising  colored  troops  to  serve  in  the  war  of  1812.  These  pre 
cedents  were  sufficient,  and  he  issued  immediate  orders  to  recruit 
two  regiments  from  the  fugitives  who  had  come  within  the 
Union  lines.  These  were  officered  with  white  men  selected 
from  the  older  regiments,  and  proved  to  be  excellent  troops. 

'In  the  early  part  of  the  month  of  June,  Lieut.  Col.  Brown 
was  detailed  by  Gen.  Butler  to  lay  aside  the  sword  for  the  pen, 
and  take  editorial  charge  of  the  Delta,  one  of  the  regular 
newspapers  issued  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  This,  with  the 
other  local  papers,  was  a  radical  secession  sheet,  and  the  gen 
eral,  finding  it  impossible  to  secure  the  publication  of  army 
orders  in  any  other  way,  seized  the  office  and  plant  of  the 
Dclta>  and  converted  it 'into  an  official  organ  of  loyal  senti 
ments  and  military  commands.  Lieut.  F.  D.  Butterfield,  of 
Company  B  ;  Lieut.  G.  F.  French,  of  Company  K  ;  Charles  F. 
Russell,  of  Company  A  ;  H.  C.  Abbott,  of  Company  C  ;  C.  G. 
Tarbell  and  George  H.  Graves,  of  Company  G  ;  O.  N.  Web 
ster,  of  Company  I  ;  H.  K.  Stoddard,  of  Company  K  ;  were 
detailed  for  the  signal  service. 


HAPS    AND    MISHAPS.  45 

There  is  one  phase  of  volunteer  campaign  life  which  would 
make  a  very  entertaining  volume,  if  it  could  be  fully  and  skilfully 
written  ;  if  all  the  ludicrous  happenings,  vexatious  accidents,  and 
unusual  experiences  of  even  a  single  regiment  could  be  vividly 
described  and  published  in  a  book,  it  would  make  an  invaluable 
souvenir  for  every  survivor.  It  is  these  seemingly  minor 
events  that  served  to  break  the  daily  monotonous  round  of 
camp  life,  and  the  remembrance  of  them  that  gives  spice  and 
piquancy  to  the  reunions  of  old  comrades  in  arms.  In  such 
material  the  career  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  was  not  lacking, 
and  probably  every  member  who  reads  these  simple  annals  will 
be  able  to  recall  many  that  the  writer  has  overlooked  or  been 
obliged  to  omit  in  so  brief  a  history.  But  a  few  samples  are 
here  introduced  by  way  of  illustration,  that  may  provoke  a 
smile,  as  the  veteran  recalls  to  mind  the  strangely  interesting 
days  when  they  occurred. 

The  boys  had  not  been  long  stationed  at' Algiers  before  they 
discovered  that  "  rebs  "  were  not  the  only  enemies  who  might 
surprise  them  and  attack  the  camp,  for  one  quiet  afternoon  a 
number  of  wild  Texas  steers  suddenly  made  a  descent  upon 
the  tents,  followed  by  herdsmen  on  their  ponies,  galloping  close 
to  their  heels.  The  creatures  had  strayed  away  from  a  drove 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  for  a  short  time  they  made  a  lively 
charge,  bursting  into  the  tents,  overturning  kettles,  and  thrust 
ing  their  lawless  horns  into  everything  that  came  in  their  way. 
It  was  not  safe  to  fire  upon  them,  lest  some  missing  shot  should 
glance  and  wound  the  men ;  and  there  was  no  alternative  but 
to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the  half-crazed  steers,  and  allow 
them  to  turn  things  topsy-turvy,  until  the  drivers  could  capture 
them  with  lassos. 

One  day  the  cook  of  Company  H  was  in  a  towering  rage 
over  an  innocent  looking  mule  belonging  to  the  quartermaster's 
department,  because  the  beast,  in  the  exercise  of  the  peculiar 
pedal  functions  for  which  his  race  is  noted,  had  made  a  plunge 
right  through  the  cooking  tent  and  utterly  ruined  the  soup  pre 
pared  for  that  day's  dinner. 

On  another  occasion  some  men  were  driving  a  herd  of  cattle 


46  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

past  the  camp,  when  one  of  the  animals  suddenly  disappeared 
and  could  not  be  found,  though  the  men  in  charge  made  a 
most  thorough  search  in  all  the  vicinity.  The  fact  was  that 
some  of  the  Yankee  soldiers,  hungry  for  a  taste  of  fresh  beef, 
had  hurried  the  creature  around  the  corner  of  the  old  depot 
building,  where  it  was  slain,  divided  among  •the  companies,  and 
secreted  piecemeal,  and  all  so  quickly  done  that  the  drovers 
never  knew  what  became  of  it. 

Guard-mounting  in  the  morning  at  Algiers  seemed  to  be  a 
very  interesting  spectacle  to  both  soldiers  and  citizens,  and 
was  watched  with  eager  curiosity.  It  was  Adjutant  Barstow's 
duty  to  see  that  the  business  was  properly  executed  according 
to  the  prescribed  army  regulation,  and  he  was  much  annoyed  if 
anything  unusual  happened  to  interrupt  the  decorum  of  this 
matutinal  observance.  No  one  then  present,  however,  has 
probably  forgotten  the  time  when  an  insane  man  undertook  to 
assist  at^  this  exercise.  After  the  adjutant  had  inspected  the 
guard  and  was  returning  to  report  to  the  officer  of  the  day,  he 
found  the  lunatic  standing  in  his  place,  and  brandishing  a 
drawn  sword  which  he  had  obtained  from  Major  Dillingham's 
quarters.  The  demented  man  imagined  himself  invested  with 
official  power,  and  the  wild  look  in  his  eyes  told  but  too  plainly 
the  danger  of  any  attempt  to  oust  him  by  force  from  the  place 
he  had  usurped.  But  Adjutant  Barstow  was  equal  to  the  occa 
sion.  Addressing  the  insane  man,  with  a  smile  of  approval, 
he  said  :  "  You  have  acted  your  part  well,  sir ;  now  step  aside 
and  let  me  try  it."  This  had  the  desired  effect,  for  the  insane 
man  appeared  pleased  and  walked  away  without  attempting  any 
mischief,  and  the  next  day  was  taken  to  an  asylum. 

It  was  no  uncommon  thing  during  the  first  summer  of  cam 
paign  life  for  members  of  the  regiment  to  have  severe  attacks 
of  home-sickness.  One  of  this  class  of  sufferers,  fearing  per 
haps  that  his  malady  might  prove  fatal  if  he  remained  in  that 
climate,  determined  to  find  some  means  of  getting  released  from 
the  service.  So  he  feigned  to  be  a  fool,  and  every  morning 
would  take  a  rod  and  line  and  fish  hour  after  hour  from  the 
wharf.  He  never  caught  anything,  and  when  asked  by  com- 


FUN-LOVING    OFFICERS.  47 

rades  what  he  was  fishing  for,  he  invariably  answered,  "  Not 
much."  So  well  did  he  play  his  part  that  the  impression  soon 
became  general  that  he  was  under-witted,  and  he  was  accord 
ingly  discharged.  But  when  the  official  papers  were  placed  in 
his  hand,  he  held  them  up,  and  with  a  look  of  greater  intelli 
gence  than  any  one  had  ever  before  seen  on  his  face,  said : 
"These  are  what  I  was  fishing  for." 

It  is  not  often  that  the  boys  in  the  ranks  have  a  good  chance  to 
uget  the  laugh"  on  their  superior  officers,  but  that  event  came 
in  the  experience  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  when  Adj.  Bar- 
stow  and  Lieut.  Spalding,  of  Company  B,  started  one  fine  day 
for  a  saddle  ride  into  the  country.  As  they  trotted  along, 
Spalding,  who  was  full  of  good  humor,  said  to  his  companion, 
pointing  to  some  trees  by  the  roadside  some  distance  ahead, 
u  Suppose  on  reaching  that  covert  we  imagine  ourselves  ambus 
caded,  draw  our  revolvers,  fire  at  the  enemy,  and  make  our 
escape."  The  fun  of  the  thing  suited  the  adjutant,  and  he 
readily  assented.  Accordingly  when  they  reached  the  place, 
Spalding  shouted,  "The  rebels!"  and  both  men  whipped  out 
their  weapons  and  began  to  shoot  at  the  imagined  foe.  But 
their  horses  did  not  seem  to  appreciate  the  humor  of  the  joke, 
or  else  were  in  no  mood  to  enjoy  it ;  for  at  the  first  shot  they 
wheeled  so  suddenly  that  their  riders  were  unseated,  and  thrown, 
while  they  galloped  back  to  camp,  leaving  the  disgruntled 
heroes  to  be  taken  prisoners,  or  to  retreat,  as  best  they  could. 

Apropos,  another  incident  comes  to  mind,  illustrative  of  the 
versatile  humor  of  Lieut.  Spalding.  He  was  officer  of  the  guard 
one  night,  and,  after  tattoo  had  sounded,  he  invited  Adju 
tant  Barstow  and  the  writer  to  make  the  customary  rounds  with 
him.  At  that  time  there  were  several  thousand  contrabands  in 
and  around  the  camp,  many  of  whom  were  quartered  in  large 
warehouses  near  the  river,  where  they  held  nightly  religious 
meetings,  and  kept  up  the  noisy  fervor  of  their  grotesque 
prayers  and  weird  singing  until  a  late  hour.  It  was  past  mid 
night  when  the  three  officers  entered  one  of  these  negro  assem 
blies  to  quiet  the  noise,  and  found  the  pious  excitement  at  its 
greatest  height.  Striking  a  dramatic  attitude,  Lieut.  Spalding 


48  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

uttered  in  a  stentorian  voice,  "  Were  I  ten  thousand  times  a 
prince,  I  would  not  trespass  on  the  ashes  gf  the  dead."  The 
words  of  Shakespeare  abruptly  broke  the  flow  of  a  negro  mel 
ody  like  a  thunder  clap,  while  startled  worshippers  on  all  sides 
cried  out,  "  Dar  be  no  dead  heah,  Massa !  "  "If  you  don't 
stop  this  noise,"  pursued  the  lieutenant,  "there  will  be  a  great 
many  of  you  dead."  It  is  needless  to  add  that  quiet  reigned  in 
that  warehouse  for  the  rest  of  the  night. 

By  order  of  Gen.  Butler,  Col.  Thomas  organized  a  court  to 
try  a  number  of  petty  cases,  where  citizens  of  Algiers  had  been 
arrested  for  various  misdemeanors.  Quartermaster  Smith  was 
appointed  judge,  and  Maj.  Dillingham  was  commissioned  to  act 
as  judge-advocate.  Considering  the  variety  of  cases,  which 
included  everything  that  might  be  expected  to  come  before  a 
civil  as  well  as  a  military  tribunal,  from  the  two  women  quarrel 
ling  about  the  ownership  of  a  pig,  to  the  citizen  who  was 
arrested  while  attempting  to  convey  stores  to  the  enemy,  and 
who  threatened  the  life  of  a  railroad  engineer  if  he  did  not 
remove  a  small  Union  flag  from  his  engine,  business  was  dis 
patched  with  very  little  delay,  and  most  of  the  convicted  offen 
ders  abided  the  sentence  of  the  court.  But  one  man,  who  had 
been  sentenced  to  be  committed  to  Ship  Island  for  six  months, 
appealed  from  the  decision  to  higher  authority.  But  his  expe 
rience  was  much  like  that  of  Shylock  contending  for  justice. 
•Gen.  Butler,  after  patiently  hearing  the  case,  doubled  the 

sentence. 

"At  midnight,  in  his  guarded  tent, 

The  Turk'  lay  dreaming  of  the  hour, 
When  Greece,  her  knee  in  suppliance  bent, 
Should  tremble  at  his  power." 

His  rude  awakening  at  the  sentry- cry, 

"  To  arms  !  they  come  !     The  Greek  !  the  Greek  !  " 

though  more  tragic,  was  not  less  startling  than  that  experienced 
by  the  Eighth  Regiment  at  the  same  still  hour,  in  the  guarded 
camp  at  Algiers.  For  a  soldier,  whose  night  visions  could  not 
have  been  as  bright  as  the  last  dream  of  the  Moslem  slain  by 


FALSE    ALARMS.  49 

Marco  Bozzaris,  yelled  out  in  his  sleep,  "The  rebels  are 
coming  ! "  Instantly  every  man  sprang  to  his  feet,  to  hear  the 
long  roll  for  the  first  time  at  midnight,  and,  in  the  sudden  con 
fusion,  scarcely  knowing  what  he  did.  Officers  came  rushing 
forth  bare-headed,  with  sword-belts  buckled  round  their  legs, 
boots  on  the  wrong  foot,  and  uniforms  all  awry ;  men  were 
crowding  and  fighting  each  other  for  the  possession  of  equip 
ments,  or  running  to  and  fro  frightened,  or  half-awake ;  while 
above  the  din  and  bustle  was  heard  the  call  of  the  orderly 
sergeants  :  "  Fall  in  !  fall  in,  boys  !  "  To  add  to  the  panic,  the 
contrabands,  scared  half  out  of  their  senses,  raised  their  vocif 
erous  jargon  to  swell  the  general  tumult.  It  seemed  a  long 
time  before  the  orders  of  the  officers  were  obeyed,  and  the  regi 
ment  was  formed  into  line  to  resist  the  expected  attack ;  and 
Col.  Thomas  kept  them  standing  there  some  half  an  hour,  while 
he  investigated  the  source  of  alarm,  when  he  dismissed  the 
command,  telling  them  to  "  go  back  to  sleep  like  good  little  boys." 
But  false  alarms  were  sometimes  even  more  annoying  than  in 
the  case  just  described.  An  officer,  who  had  been  prospecting 
outside  the  lines  one  day,  returned  and  reported  that,  in  taking 
an  outlook  from  the  top  of  a  tree,  he  discovered  a  force  of  one 
hundred  or  more  rebels  in  camp  within  a  short  distance. 
Early  the  next  morning  Col.  Thomas  took  the  regiment,  except 
a  guard  left  for  the  camp,  and  started  out  to  capture  the  alleged 
rebels.  Following  the  guidance  of  the  officer  who  claimed  to 
have  discovered  them,  the  men  tramped  all  day  long  through 
swamps  and  woods,  sometimes  in  ditches  and  water  up  to  their 
knees,  —  actually  swimming  canals,  and  felling  trees  for  tem 
porary  bridges.  Thus  they  forced  their  way  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  to  an  open  road,  where  they  -had  agreed  to  meet  a 
portion  of  the  command ;  but  on  arriving,  so  great  was  their 
exhaustion  that  no  amount  of  urging  would  induce  them  to  go 
another  step.  Col.  Thomas  therefore  dispatched  a  messenger 
to  camp,  with  orders  to  the  quartermaster  to  procure  a  boat  and 
come  to  their  relief.  In  this  way  the  command  was  returned 
to  camp  about  midnight,  disgusted  with  the  undertaking,  and 
vexed  at  the  failure. 


50  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

June  6th,  First  I^ieut.  E.  B.  Wright,  Company  C,  resigned, 
and  the  vacancy  was  filled  by  the  promotioti  of  Sergeant  Maj. 
Geo.  N.  Carpenter. 


RACELAND. 

The  first  baptism  of  blood,  that  trying  ordeal  to  which  every 
thoughtful  volunteer  looked  forward  with  dread,  came  to  part 
of  the  Eighth  Vermont  on  the  22d  of  June.  Two  days 
before,  Company  H,  which  was  stationed  on  the  extreme  out 
post  of  the  railway,  had  fallen  back  from  La  Fourche  Crossing 
to  Bayou  des  Allemands,  when  Capt.  Button,  hearing  that  some 
parties  were  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  track,  sent  a  detachment 
of  thirty  men,  under  Lieutenants  Franklin  and  Holton,  up  the 
road  to  Raceland.  They  were  conveyed  in  a  passenger  car, 
which  was  slowly  pushed  ahead  of  a  locomotive,  while  Sergeant 
Smith  with  six  men  preceded  the  car  on  foot,  as  an  advance 
guard.  While  thus  moving  cautiously  forward,  they  were  sud 
denly  surprised  by  the  report  of  musketry  from  the  woods 
beside  the  track,  and  a  shower  of  minies  came  rattling  down 
upon  them.  Officers  Franklin  and  Holton  were  severely 
wounded  at  the  first  fire,  and  the  advance  guard  sprang  on 
board  the  train,  while  the  engineer  quickly  reversed  his  en 
gine  and  ran  back  with  all  possible  speed.  The  secreted 
enemy,  then  emerging  from  their  coverts,  continued  to  fire 
upon  the  receding  trairi  until  out  of  gun-shot  range,  and  it  was 
returned  from  the  windows  of  the  car  with  fatal  effect.  Ser 
geant  Wm.  H.  Smith  was  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  after  he 
boarded  the  car  a  second  ball  hurt  his  eye ;  two  of  his  squad 
also  were  killed  outright  and  left  behind.  The  result  of 
the  engagement  was  six  Confederates  killed  and  many  others 
wounded,  while  the  Union  loss  was  as  follows  :  Killed,  Corporal 
Henry  McClure,  Corporal  John  W.  Saunders,  Private  L.  M. 
Richardson,  Private  M.  W.  Wellman,  and  Fireman  Stoats,  of  the 
train  ;  wounded,  Lieut.  A.  B.  Franklin,  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  H. 
Holton,  First  Sergt.  S.  E.  Howard,  Sergt.  W.  H.  Smith,  Sergt. 


"  YES,  i  'j/  KILLED:^  5 1 

George  M.  Allard,  and  Privates  Clark    B.    Akeley,   Ebenezer 
Oaks,  Jr.,  Andrew  J.  Wood,  Calvin  L.  Cook. 

As  soon  as  the  train  returned  to  Des  Allemands,  Capt.  But 
ton  ordered  Sergt.  Smith  to  take  the  wounded  to  the  hospital  at 
Algiers,  and  report  the  affair  to  Col.  Thomas,  and  their  arrival 
at  camp  caused  a  great  excitement.  The  colonel  immediately 
dispatched  Companies  A,  C,  and  I,  to  relieve  Company  H  at 
Des  Allemands ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  advance  upon  that  out 
post,  nor  did  they  again  appear  at  that  place  later  on. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  encounter  with  the  enemy  is 
told  the  following  :  On  the  retreat  of  the  train  Orderly  Ser 
geant  Howard,  who  was  examining  the  wounded  men,  found 
Sergt.  Allard  apparently  very  badly  hurt,  and  in  reply  to  his 
inquiries  the  sufferer  said  :  "  Yes,  I  'm  killed."  Howard  tried 
to  reassure  the  poor  man,  but  it  was  of  no  use,  for  Allard 
insisted  that  he  was  shot  straight  through  the  breast,  and  that 
the  bullet  was  lodged  close  to  his  spine  just  under  the  skin. 
An  examination  seemed  to  confirm  this  view  of  the  case,  for 
there  was  the  wound  in  front,  and  the  lead  was  plainly  to  be  felt 
beside  the  spinal  column,  and  his  comrades  felt  convinced  that 
his  case  was  very  critical.  When  the  car  reached  Des  Alle 
mands,  however,  and  the  wounded  sergeant  had  been  carefully 
helped  out  and  deposited  on  the  floor,  Corporal  Hilliard,  who 
was  something  of  a  nurse,  while  trying  to  minister  to  his  com 
fort,  made  the  discovery  that  the  ball,  instead  of  penetrating 
the  bone,  had  glanced  and  plowed  its  way  just  under  the  skin 
to  its  lodgment  on  the  other  side,  and  that  Allard's  chest  was 
as  sound  as  ever.  With  a  pocket-knife  he  easily  liberated  the 
missile,  and  the  doomed  soldier  was  instantly  relieved,  and  took 
a  new  lease  of  life. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  Surgeon  George  F.  Gale 
resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Gillett,  and  Sam 
uel  H.  Currier  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon.  Dr.  Gale 
was  well  known  in  the  state  of  Vermont  as  one  of  the  fore 
most  men  in  his  profession,  was  an  accomplished  scholar,  and  a 
gentleman  of  character  and  dignity.  Governor  Holbrook  had 
appointed  him  surgeon  of  the  regiment  on  account  of  his  emi- 


52  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

nent  abilities,  but  the  short  time  which  he  remained  with 
them  afforded  very  little  opportunity  for  ttie  display  of  pro 
fessional  skill.  After  his  resignation  was  accepted,  and  before 
his  return  for  home,  the  line  officers  signed  resolutions  which 
were  handsomely  engrossed,  assuring  him  of  their  confidence, 
and  regret  at  his  departure. 

A  few  weeks  later  the  following  promotions  were  made: 
July  22  —  Sergeant  Dennis  Buckley,  Company  D,  to  second 
lieutenant,  vice  D.  G.  Child,  deceased.  July  23  —  Orderly  Ser 
geant  L.  M.  Hutchinson,  Company  A,  to  second  lieutenant, 
vice  G.  S.  Rand,  deceased.  July  24  —  Orderly  Sergeant  A.  J. 
Sargent,  Company  K,  to  second  lieutenant  Company  E,  vice 
T.  P.  Kellogg,  deceased. 

On  the  last  day  of  August,  a  bloodless  expedition  was 
undertaken  for  the  capture  of  cattle  in  St.  Charles  parish, 
about  thirty  miles  above  Algiers.  Word  was  brought  from 
Gen.  Butler  that  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  was  collecting 
cattle  in  that  region  to  send  across  the  Mississippi  for  the 
sustenance  of  the  Confederate  army,  and  there  appeared  to  be 
a  very  good  reason  why  those  prospective  beef  supplies  should 
be  secured  for  the  benefit  of  the  Union  camp.  Consequently 
Col.  Thomas,  with  Companies  A  and  C,  a  section  of  artillery, 
and  a  company  of  cavalry,  started  late  in  the  afternoon  to 
execute  Gen.  Butler's  commands  and  possess  himself  of  the 
coveted  supplies.  -  After  an  all-night  march  they  came  upon 
the  enemy's  rear  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  when  the 
cavalry  began  at  once  a  sharp  skirmish,  and  the  artillery  shelled 
a  piece  of  woods  and  a  sugar-cane  field  to  drive  out  the  enemy. 
About  two  thousand  cattle,  sheep,  and  mules  fell  into  their 
hands,  together  with  about  twenty  prisoners  ;  and  without 
making  any  halt,  Col.  Thomas  ordered  his  command  to  face 
about  and  return,  driving  their  booty  before  them.  On  the 
way  back  they  were  joined  by  large  numbers  of  negroes,  who 
had  escaped  from  the  plantations,  bringing  their  mules  along 
with  them,  and  soon  the  moving  procession  stretched  from 
three  to  four  miles.  The  march  was  made  as  rapidly  as  possi 
ble  through  the  night,  for  the  plundered  enemy  followed  close 


:•-" 


.,. 


A    FATAL    SURPRISE.  53 

behind,  and  it  became  necessary  to  stop  occasionally  and 
exchange  a  few  shots  with  them,  while  the  contrabands  hurried 
on  the  drove  of  live  stock.  But  prisoners,  steers,  sheep,  mules, 
and  darkies,  were  safe  within  the  Union  lines  at  ten  o'clock 
next  morning  ;  and  Col.  Thomas  was  highly  complimented  on 
the  success  of  his  dashing  exploit. 


BOUTEE    STATION. 

The  Confederates  under  Colonel  McWalters,  whom  the  bril 
liant  night  sally  of  Colonel  Thomas  had  deprived  of  their 
cattle,  determined  to  revenge  their  loss.  To  that  end  they 
marched  toward  Boutee  station,  where  a  small  detachment  of 
the  Eighth  Regiment  was  on  guard,  and  easily  overpowered 
and  captured  them.  At  that  time  daily  trains  were  run  be 
tween  Algiers  and  Des  Allemands,  and  those  going  up  and 
down  the  track  passed  each  other  at  Boutee  station.  This  fact 
being  known  to  McWalters's  force,  which  was  fifteen  hundred 
strong,  they  turned  the  switches  the  wrong  way  on  the  morning 
of  September  4th,  and  concealed  themselves  on  either  side  of 
the  track  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  trains. 

To  lessen  the  danger  while  running  between  Des  Allemands 
and  Boutee  station,  where  the  track  was  very  much  exposed,  a 
strong  guard  accompanied  each  train  over  that  part  of  the  line, 
well  armed  to  resist  any  sudden  attack  that  might  be  made 
upon  it.  Captain  Clark,  of  Company  K,  in  charge  of  sixty 
men  and  a  twelve-pound  gun,  was  detailed  to  escort  the  Des 
Allemands  train  on  the  fatal  morning  of  the  4th,  the  soldiers 
riding  on  platform  cars.  All  unconscious  of  the  fate  in  store 
for  them,  they  approached  Boutee  station  as  usual,  keeping  a 
sharp  lookout  but  seeing  no  signs  of  danger.  Suddenly  the 
concealed  enemy  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  with  a  fiendish  yell 
poured  a  murderous  fire  upon  the  unprotected  men,  who  were 
forced  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  leaden  rain.  The  artillery  men 
were  instantly  cut  down,  and  the  twelve-pounder  could  not  be 
used ;  but  Captain  Clark  ordered  his  men  to  fire  upon  the  Con- 


54  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

federates  as  they  issued  from  the  woods  in  all  directions,  while 
the  engineer,  who  fortunately  was  unhurt,  kept  the  train  in 
motion,  and  it  ran  upon  a  siding.  The  firing  was  rapid  on  both 
sides,  and  the  Union  soldiers,  owing  to  their  exposed  position, 
were  falling  rapidly,  as  the  cars  moved  onward  where  they 
might  soon  pass  out  of  range,  but  for  the  misplaced  switch, 
which  the  enemy  had  so  turned  as  to  run  the  train  off  at  the 
end  of  the  side  track. 

At  this  critical  moment,  however,  when  it  seemed  as  though 
every  chance  of  escape  was  cut  off  and  the  entire  force  must 
perish  ingloriously,  Private  Louis  J.  Ingalls,  of  Company  K, 
made  a  quick  heroic  dash  that  saved  the  day.  Taking  in  the 
situation  at  a  glance  he  leaped  to  the  ground,  ran  forward 
through  a  shower  of  balls,  turned  the  switch,  let  the  train 
pass  on,  and  boarded  his  car  again.  It  was  a  wonder  that  he  was 
not  shot  down,  for  his  clothing  was  riddled  with  bullets,  but  the 
only  wound  he  received  was  a  ball  through  the  neck.  The 
immediate  danger  was  thus  averted ;  but  out  of  that  terrible 
fire  but  twenty-five  of  Captain  Clark's  command  escaped  un 
scathed  ;  thirteen  were  killed  outright,  two  others  were  fatally 
shot  and  died  next  day,  while  twenty  were  more  or  less 
severely  wounded,  some  of  whom  fell  off  the  train  and  were 
captured  by  the  enemy.  The  names  of  the  slain  were,  Sergeant 
James  E.  Thayer,  and  Privates  Simon  K.  Bailey,  John  S.  Col- 
grove,  Wm.  R.  Gray,  Fred  Greenwood,  Henry  McGookin, 
Levi  Brust,  of  Company  E  ;  Privates  Charles  R.  Car 
roll,  George  J.  Carson,,  Joseph  Leary,  Charles  F.  Stone, 
Auguste  Laymont,  of  Company  K  ;  Private  Sylvanus  F. 
Ailes,  of  Company  A.  The  two  who  died  of  their  wounds 
on  the  following  day  were  George  Clapper,  of  Company  C,  and 
George  Farrver,  and  John  F.  Departhy,  of  Company  G.  The 
wounded  were  Lewis  J.  Ingalls,  Gilbert  Lead,  George  W.  Hill, 
Ezra  S.  Pierce,  Chauncey  M.  Snow,  Charles  H.  Presby,  Arthur 
M.  Raymond,  Charles  H.  Farnam,  Henry '  Raseblade,  and 
Ethan  Shores,  all  of  Company  K.  Benjamin  Morse,  Company 
E,  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner ;  George  Poor,  Company 
E,  died  of  his  wounds. 


A    SURRENDER.  55 

Scarcely  were  the  survivors  of  this  tragic  slaughter  beyond 
reach  of  the  Confederate  bullets,  when  they  confronted  the  up 
train  from  Algiers,  and  luckily  both  were  brought  to  rest  in 
time  to  prevent  a  collision.  By  this  means  the  latter  escaped 
the  fate  intended  for  it,  and  both  trains  made  the  best  pos 
sible  speed  to  Algiers. 

DES    ALLEMANDS. 

Bent  on  the  work  of  destruction,  the  enemy  then  set  fire  to 
the  station  buildings  and  houses  in  the  vicinity,  and  then 
pushed  rapidly  up  the  track  towards  Des  Allemands.  This 
place  was  held  by  a  portion  of  Companies  E,  G,  and  K,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Hall,  of  Company  E. 

On  coming  in  sight  of  the  pickets  stationed  about  half  a 
mile  from  Des  Allemands,  the  Confederate  commander  sent  the 
sergeant  in  command  under  a  flag  of  truce  to  inform  Capt.  Hall 
of  the  operations  at  Boutee  station,  and  that  his  force  was  suffi 
cient  to  surround  the  Union  men  on  all  sides.  Consequently  he 
demanded  an  immediate  surrender  in  order  to  prevent  needless 
bloodshed.  As  a  reply  to  this  summons,  Capt.  Hall  dispatched 
Lieut.  Greene  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  meet  Col.  McWalters, 
while  he  held  a  hasty  consultation  with  his  officers,  and  decided 
what  course  to  pursue.  But  while  the  question  of  surrender 
was  under  discussion,  they  saw  the  Confederates  marching 
towards  them  in  close  column  with  Lieut.  Greene  in  front  of 
them.  There  was  no  time  to  lose,  and  Capt.  Hall,  aware  that 
his  force  was  quite  inadequate  to  successful  resistance,  and  that 
his  supply  of  ammunition  was  low,  surrendered  himself  and  his 
command,  prisoners  of  war.  Besides  Capt.  Hall,  the  force  con 
sisted  of  Lieut.  Sargent,  of  Company  E ;  Lieutenants  Greene 
and  Mead,  of  Company  G ;  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
privates. 

Lieut.  Morse,  of  Company  I,  who  had  command  of  the  artil 
lery  at  Des  Allemands,  made  his  escape  when  the  force  sur 
rendered,  and,  taking  a  boat,  rowed  some  three  miles  up  the 
bayou,  where  he  found  a  vacant  house  in  which  he  rested  a 
while,  and  then  hiding  in  a  neighboring  cane-field,  slept  there 


56  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

through  the  night.  There  he  also  spent  the  following  day, 
waiting  for  the  appearance  of  troops  from, Algiers,  and  was 
once  obliged  to  secrete  himself  in  the  sugar-cane  to  avoid  being 
discovered  by  some  rebel  scouts  who  were  prowling  about  in 
the  vicinity.  The  next  day,  while  strolling  cautiously  along, 
he  fell  in  with  a  negro  who  told  him  that  the  rebels  were 
searching  for  him  ;  and  just  then  a  party  of  them  came  in  sight 
and  fired  several  shots  after  him.  But  Morse  fled  to  the  cover 
of  the  woods  and  escaped  ;  then  after  wandering  several  days 
through  the  swamps,  he  finally  reached  the  Mississippi,  and 
was  taken  on  board  a  boat  and  landed  at  New  Orleans.  From 
that  city  he  crossed  the  river  and  reported  to  Col.  Thomas  at 
Algiers.  On  reaching  camp  he  was  hatless  and  shoeless,  and 
suffering  severely  with  malaria,  which  kept  him  confined  in  the 
hospital  for  several  weeks  with  a  slow  fever. 

As  soon  as  the  trains  brought  the  news  of  the  Boutee  station 
attack  to  Algiers,  Col.  Thomas  reported  the  case  to  Gen.  Butler, 
who  immediately  ordered  Col.  McMillan  and  the  Twenty-first 
Indiana  to  go  up  the  river  by  boat  and  form  a  junction  with  Col. 
Thomas  at  Boutee  station.  In  prosecution  of  the  same  plan, 
Col.  Thomas  started  with  his  regiment  by  rail.  The  night  was 
very  dark,  and  the  train  had  gone  scarcely  a  dozen  miles  when 
the  engine  struck  an  ox  which  had  strayed  on  to  the  track,  and 
the  cars  were  derailed  and  most  of  them  wrecked.  Alonzo  Sil 
ver,  of  Company  A,  was  killed,  and  William  Rollins  and  Calvin 
W.  H.  Smith,  of  Company  A,  were  more  or  less  hurt.  His 
progress  thus  thwarted, ,  Col.  Thomas  saw  that  it  would  be 
impossible  to  reach  his  destination  in  time  to  meet  McMillan, 
*  and  returned  to  Algiers,  intending  to  go  forward  by  water,  and 
march  across  the  country.  But  Gen.  Butler  countermanded  the 
order,  and  the  next  day  the  colonel  withdrew  his  pickets  to  with 
in  twelve  miles  of  his  camp. 

During  the  attack  at  Boutee  station  Corporal  George  W.  Hill, 
of  Company  K,  received  five  shots  in  his  legs  and  hips,  but 
recovered,  and  was  afterwards  made  first  lieutenant,  and  con 
tinued  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Edward  H. 
Raserlade,  another  unfortunate  member  of  the  same  company, 


SWEET   GIRL    GRADUATES.  57 

received  six  gun-shot  wounds  at  the  first  fire  of  the  enemy,  and 
fell  off  the  car.  He  jumped  up,  however,  and  tried  to  escape, 
when  a  Confederate  officer  dealt  him  a  sabre  blow  on  the  head 
and  a  cut  on  the  shoulder,  which  felled  him  again  to  the  ground, 
where  he  was  left  behind  for  dead,  or  nearly  so.  There  he  lay 
all  night,  weak  and  faint  from  hunger  and  loss  of  blood,  and 
was  rescued  by  the  Twenty-first  Indiana,  on  its  arrival  next  day, 
and  sent  to  Algiers. 

Another  bloodless  campaign,  but  bearing  a  more  agreeable 
termination,  was  undertaken  about  the  middle  of  September. 
Rumor  was  brought  to  the  camp  that  a  small  Confederate  force 
was  massed  at  Thibodeaux,  and  three  companies  under  Maj. 
Dillingham  were  detailed  to  investigate  the  report.  Crossing 
Bayou  des  Allemands  in  boats,  they  followed  the  railroad  track 
to  La  Fourche  Crossing,  where  a  strong  guard  was  left,  and  the 
main  force  pushed  on  to  Thibodeaux,  about  three  miles  distant. 
Few  people  were  to  be  seen  in  the  streets  on  their  arrival,  stores 
were  closed  and  blinds  shut  on  dwelling-houses,  and  Confed 
erate  soldiers,  if  there  had  been  any,  as  well  as  civilians,  had 
apparently  deserted  the  place.  Maj.  Dillingham  found  an  iron 
foundry  containing  models  and  patterns  for  manufacturing  arms, 
which  he  destroyed.  Then,  marching  his  command  to  the  out 
skirts  of  the  town,  he  came  upon  a  young  ladies'  seminary,  from 
the  windows  of  which  peered  the  eager  faces  of  the  school 
girls,  intent  on  getting  a  good  look  at  the  terrible  Yankees. 
Quartermaster  Smith  accompanied  the  party,  and  both  the 
major  and  himself  being  noted  for  gallantry  toward  the  fair 
sex,  a  halt  was  ordered,  while  the  band  was  directed  to  discourse 
sweet  music  for  the  delectation  of  the  curious  maidens  of  Dixie 
Land.  Having  thus  paid  a  delicate  compliment  to  their  pretty 
auditors,  the  men  gave  three  cheers  for  the  "  sweet  girl  grad 
uates,"  three  more  for  the  dear  old  flag,  and  marched  away  to 
the  strains  of  "  Yankee  Doodle."  On  the  return  an  old  cannon, 
which  the  enemy  had  hidden  away,  was  discovered,  and  the  boys 
brought  it  home  as  a  trophy. 

After  the  disasters  at  Raceland,  Des  Allemands,  and  Boutee 


58  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

* 
station,  a  very  sharp  lookout  was  kept  at  all  the  outposts,  and  a. 

mounted  picket  was  organized.  In  the  assignment  of  forces 
Company  H  was  stationed  for  a  time  at  a  place  called  Company 
Canal,  located  on  the  Mississippi  river,  about  ten  miles  above 
New  Orleans.  Into  their  camp  one  morning. a  man  came  riding 
in  hot  haste  from  the  south,  who  reported  that  the  negroes  on 
a  plantation  some  two  or  three  miles  distant  had  risen  against 
their  white  overseer,  and  were  trying  to  murder  him.  To  save 
himself  the  overseer  had  locked  himself  into  a  small  building 
on  the  premises,  but  his  pursuers  were  firing  at  him  through 
the  shutters  and  were  likely  to  kill  him  unless  he  received  help. 
The  messenger  was  in  great  terror,  and  begged  for  soldiers  to 
go  to  the  rescue  of  his  friend  before  it  was  too  late.  In  response 
to  his  request,  Capt.  Button  detailed  a  party  of  six  or  eight 
men,  who  mounted  horses  loanedt  hem  by  the  outpost  pickets, 
and  hastened  with  all  speed  toward  the  scene  of  the  trouble- 

Keeping  their  informant  close  at  hand,  they  warned  him  that 
any  treachery  on  his  part  would  be  fatal  to  him,  and  had  nearly 
reached  the  plantation,  when  they  met  a  procession  of  negroes 
following  a  mule  cart  driven  by  an  old  negro,  and  lying  in  the 
cart  was  the  dead  body  of  the  overseer.  It  was  a  sad  spectacle, 
for  the  prostrate  form  was  that  of  a  young  and  handsome  man, 
whose  clean  white  shirt  front  was  drenched  with  the  deep  crim 
son  that  had  hardly  ceased  to  flow  from  his  veins. 

The  negroes  evidently  expected  the  Yankees  to  approve  their 
fiendish  action,  supposing  that  the  Union  army  had  been  sent 
there  to  kill  their  old  masters,  and  would  rejoice  at  any  means 
employed  to  get  rid  of  them.  They  declared  that  the  over 
seer  had  been  a  hard  master,  and  very  "outrageous,"  what 
ever  that  might  signify,  on  which  account  they  were  confident 
that  their  murderous  act  was  entirely  justifiable.  They  further 
explained  that  the  shots  fired  through  the  shutters  of  the 
house  into  which  he  had  fled  for  refuge  took  effect,  and  when  he 
attempted  to  rush  out  and  escape,  the  old  negro  who  was 
driving  the  cart  fired  a  charge  of  buckshot  into  his  breast  and 
killed  him.  But  to  their  apparent  surprise,  Capt.  Button  repri 
manded  the  murderers  severely,  and  had  the  old  man  and 


A     TR  UE    IVOMA  N.  5  9> 

% 
several  of  his  accomplices  placed  under  arrest  and  sent  to  Gen. 

Butler  at  New  Orleans. 

The  letter  which  is  here  inserted  with  a  brief  preface  will 
carry  its  own  lesson  straight  to  the  heart  of  every  mother  who 
reads  it,  and  plead  eloquently  for  the  exercise  of  a  charity 
broad  enough  to  believe  that  there  were  honest  secessionists, 
who  loved  their  enemies  and  tried  to  do  them  good. 

When  the  regiment  went  up  the  Opelousas  Railroad  in 
October,  1862,  Orderly  Sergt.  S.  E.  Howard,  being  ill,  was 
left  behind  in  charge  of  a  picket-post  near  the  residence  of 
Col.  Sparks,  at  Company  Canal.  He  was  suffering  severely 
with  chills  and  fever,  contracted  in  that  malarious  climate,  and 
on  learning  his  condition,  Mrs.  Sparks  warned  him  against 
exposure,  and  kindly  urged  him  to  sleep  at  her  house  and 
receive  medical  attendance.  But  Howard  respectfully  declined 
to  accept  the  proffered  courtesy,  until  he  was  seized  with  a 
violent  congestive  chill  which  left  him  almost  dead,  and  in  this 
condition  his  comrades  carried  him  to  her  house. 

Mrs.  Sparks  realized  the  desperate  nature  of  the  case,  and 
the  need  of  prompt  and  vigorous  treatment.  But  she  had  no 
medicines,  and  could  procure  none  short  of  New  Orleans,  which 
was  ten  miles  away.  Her  husband  was  infirm,  and  all  her 
negroes  had  left  her  except  a  few  old  decrepit  men.  To  add  to 
the  perplexity,  it  was  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  rain 
was  falling  in  torrents. 

Would  a  stranger  be  likely  to  face  such  obstacles  in  order  to 
save  the  life  of  an  enemy,  who  had  come  there  for  the  sole  pur 
pose  of  destroying  a  government  for  which  she  had  sacrificed  so 
much  ?  She  did ;  and,  with  the  help  of  a  friend  who  lived  half 
way  between  her  house  and  the  city,  the  medicine  was  obtained. 
Mrs.  Sparks  dispatched  one  of  her  old  servants  with  a  message 
to  this  friend,  who  was  none  other  than  the  wife  of  the  late  col 
lector  of  the  port  of  New  Orleans,  Mr.  Hatch.  He  absconded 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  taking  with  him  a  large  amount 
of  United  States  funds,  and  Mrs.  Hatch  was  a  most  violent 
secessionist,  and  a  cordial  hater  of  Yankees.  But  when  the 


60  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

message  from  her  friend  reached  her,  the  kind  woman's  heart 
within  her  overcame  all  other  consideration,  and  Mi's.  Hatch 
set  out  for  the  city  in  the  darkness  and  storm,  got  the  needed 
prescription,  and  herself  carried  it  to  the  bedside  of  the  sinking 
Union  sergeant.  It  cost  her  a  night  journey  of  fifteen  miles, 
in  the  course  of  which  she  had  to  cross  and  recross  the  Mis 
sissippi  river,  and  expose  herself  to  storm  and  clanger. 

For  six  weeks  Sergt.  Howard  remained  in  that  house,  a  very 
sick  man,  and  Mrs.  Sparks  and  Mrs.  Hatch  were  both  unre 
mitting  in  their  care,  and  no  mother  could  have  nursed  him 
more  tenderly.  After  his  recovery  it  afforded  him  great 
pleasure  to  be  able  to  show  them  some  acts  of  kindness,  and  he 
desires  in  these  pages  to  record  a  tribute  of  gratitude  to  his 
noble,  self-sacrificing  benefactors. 

Sergt.  Howard  was  not  the  only  member  of  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  to  whom  Mrs.  Sparks  ministered  during  a  period  of 
illness.  Alfred  Read,  of  Company  E,  was  sick,  and  died  at  her 
house  during  the  autumn  of  1862  ;  and  the  following  letter  which 
she  addressed  to  the  mother  of  the  young  man,  in  Vermont, 
soon  after  his  death,  needs  no  comment. 


COMPANY  CANAL,  LA.,  1862. 

Dear  Mrs.  Read:  Although  you  and  I  are  strangers  —  may  perhaps 
never  meet  in  this  world  —  my  thoughts  and  heart  have  been  with  you  the 
last  few  days.  This  perhaps  may  seem  strange,  as  our  countries  are  at 
enmity,  and  at  war  with  each  other. 

I  am  a  mother,  and  know  np  enemy  in  sickness  or  death.  I  sympathize 
with  you  deeply  in  the  loss  of  your  son  Alfred.  It  was  my  privilege  to 
nurse  your  dear  child  in  his  last  illness ;  it  was  indeed  a  pleasure  to  me  to 
administer  to  his  comfort  in  his  last  severe  suffering. 

He  was  a  patient,  good  boy;  I  stood  by  his  bedside  day  and  night, 
conversed  much  with  him ;  he  frequently  spoke  of  his  dear  mother  and 
wished  he  was  with  you.  He  was  aware  of  his  situation,  felt  that  he  could 
not  live,  said  he  knew  there  was  a  better  world,  where  he  would  be  happy. 
He  would  be  glad  to  see  his  friends,  "  but"  said  he,  "I  will  meet  them  after 
death." 

This,  my  dear  Mrs.  Read,  should  be  a  great  comfort  to  you, —  that  your 
son  should  have  a  hope  beyond  the  grave.  What  a  consoling  thought  to  par 
ents,  that  we  are  only  separated  a  short  time  from  our  children ;  we  are  to 


A    REBEL    MOTHER.  6 1 

live  in  this  world  but  a  few  short  years  at  most ;  here  we  have  no  abiding- 
place,  but  seek  one  which  is  to  come.  Soon  time  with  us  will  be  no  more, 
and  eternity  will  dawn  upon  us.  Should  we  not  then  consecrate  all  our 
energies  and  powers  to  preparation  for  that  everlasting  life  beyond  the 
grave,  where  we  will  be  free  from  all  the  cares  of  this  world,  our  children 
and  friends  restored  unto  us  ?  Be  not  cast  down  at  the  ways  of  God;  He  has 
taken  your  dear  Alfred  for  a  wise  purpose.  Can  you  not  exclaim,  in  the 
language  of  the  Bible  :  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  taketh  away  ;  blessed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord  "  ?  "  He  is  able  to  heal  your  wounded  heart ;  look 
unto  Him  in  every  trouble  and  sorrow."  "  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  chil 
dren,"  so  pitieth  He  us,  weak,  frail,  and  inconsistent  as  we  are.  He  is  a 
present  help  in  every  time  of  trouble  or  need. 

The  last  few  hours  of  your  son's  life  he  was  unconscious;  a  kiss  was 
imprinted  upon  his  cold  cheek  for  his  mother;  his  manly  form  is  now  no 
more  to  be  seen,  his  eyes  forever  closed  to  the  perplexities  of  this  sinful 
world,  his  seat  left  vacant  at  your  table,  his  voice  no  more  to  be  heard  amid 
the  loved  ones  at  home.  May  you  and  your  family  be  enabled  to  bear  this 
sad  bereavement  with  Christian  fortitude  and  resignation,  feeling  it  to  be 
the  will  of  God. 

This  most  unnatural  war  is  convincing  us  more  and  more  every  day  of 
the  truth  of  the  Bible, —  the  father  is  in  arms  against  the  son,  and  the  son 
against  the  father, —  each  believing  themselves  pursuing  the  path  of  duty. 

How  many  homes  are  now  made  sad  by  the  loss  of  father,  husband,  son, 
brother,  or  some  near  and  dear  friend.  Would  to  God  the  trouble  could  be 
-settled !  I  have  two  dear  sons  in  the  Confederate  army ;  have  not  heard 
from  them  the  last  four  months,  and  know  not  that  they  are  alive.  It  has 
been  my  earnest  prayer  that  they  may  be  spared  a  soldier's  death.  I  feel 
an  all-abiding  faith  in  the  promises  of  Christ,  and  am  willing  to  leave  all 
things  in  his  hands;  he  has  promised  to  work  all  things  together  for  good 
to  "those  that  put  their  trust  in  him."  Were  it  not  for  this  hope  I  could 
not  bear  the  troubles  of  this  world. 

I  have  everything  to  be  thankful  to  God  for,  and  hope  that  you  and  I, 
with  all  those  who  are  near  and  dear  to  us,  may  so  live  on  earth  that  we  may 
be  prepared  for  the  blessed  mansions  above. 

May  you  accept  this  letter  in  the  same  spirit  it  is  written,  by  a  sympa 
thizing  stranger  and  mother. 

Yours  respectfully, 

A  REBEL  MOTHER. 

The  fate  of  Union  prisoners  captured  by  the  Confederates 
was  usually  hard,  and  often  pitiful  in  the  extreme  ;  nor  did 
members  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  who  fell  into  their  hands 
form  any  exception  to  the  rule.  On  the  Qth  of  September, 


62  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

ex-General  Wickliffe  came  into  the  Federal  lines  under  cover 
of  a  flag  of  truce,  bearing  dispatches  from  G*n.  "Dick  "  Taylor, 
who  threatened  to  execute  a  number  of  the  prisoners  taken  at 
Des  Allemands  on  the  4th  of  September  ;  but  Gen.  Butler's 
forcible  and  threatening  reply  caused  the  inimical  commander 
to  change  his  mind  and  spare  the  victims. 

The  men  whom  Capt.  Hall  surrendered  at  Des  Allemands 
were  placed  in  charge  of  a  guard  of  Texas  rangers,  and 
marched  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles  to  Camp  Pratt,  near 
New  Iberia.  There  they  remained  about  six  weeks,  when  they 
were  sent  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  kept  in  a  jail-yard  which 
was  the  Andersonville  of  the  Southwest.  There  they  remained 
several  weeks  in  a  wretched  condition ;  for  the  rebels  had 
robbed  them  of  all  their  clothing  and  blankets,  except  a  few 
rags  that  were  not  worth  stealing,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
subsist  on  the  meanest  food  and  sleep  on  the  bare  ground  with 
out  any  covering  to  protect  them.  It  was  late  autumn,  the 
most  uncomfortable  season  of  the  year  in  that  latitude,  and 
they  were  exposed  to  storm  and  cold  with  no  fires  to  keep 
them  warm.  Capt.  J.  W.  Smith,  of  Company  K,  thus  writes  of 
their  prison  life  : 

"  Our  rations  consisted  of  corn  ground  with  -the  cobs,  and  not  sifted,, 
which  was  prepared  by  mixing  in  a  barrel,  like  food  for  swine,  without  salt, 
and  baked  on  the  top  of  a  stove,  the  outside  being  burned  black  while  the 
middle  was  raw.  This  was  dealt  out  sparingly. 

"  One  fifth  of  our  number  died  soon  after  getting  back  to  our  lines,  and  not 
one  half  ever  returned  to  their  companies  for  duty;  and  to  cap  the  climax, 
after  we  had  our  paroles,  and  were  waiting  for  the  boat  to  take  us  to  our 
lines,  we  were  compelled  to  cast  lots,  and  two  of  our  number  were  selected 
to  remain  and  be  shot,  in  retaliation  for  some  guerillas  executed  by  Gen. 
McNeil,  in  Missouri.  The  lots  fell  upon  Sergt.  Wills  and  Private  Spear. 
Two  days  later  the  whole  party,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  selected  to 
be  shot,  were  put  on  the  exchange  boat  and  taken  to  New  Orleans.  Reach 
ing  there  on  November  u,  they  were  at  once  sent  to  Ship  Island  to  remain 
until  they  were  exchanged. 

"It  was  an  exciting  moment  when  the  line  was  formed  at  Vicksburg,  and 
the  men  all  knew  that  two  of  the  party  were  to  be  selected  by  lot  to  be 
shot ;  and  it  was  a  touching  parting  when  their  comrades  took  Sergt. 
Charles  R.  Wills,  of  Randolph,  and  Edward  Spear,  of  Braintree,  by  the 
hand,  and  bade  them  good-by." 


AN   ATROCIOUS     CRIME.  63 

Sergeant  Wills  writes  that  "they  were  confined  in  prison 
cells  for  several  months,  when  finally  they  were  reprieved  by 
Jeff.  Davis."  So  deeply  were  they  affected  on  hearing  this 
good  news,  that,  in  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment,  Wills  gave 
three  cheers  for  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America.  He  was  the  only  man  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  who 
ever  cheered  for  that  dignitary.  They  were  both  exchanged, 
and  Sergeant  Wills  returned  to  the  regiment,  but  Spear  died 
before  reaching  the  Union  lines. 

On  the  first  day  of  October  Dr.  Cyrus  H.  Allen  was  ap 
pointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the  regiment. 


SHOOTING    THE    GERMANS. 

The  saddest  event  connected  with  the  capture  of  Union 
troops  at  Bayou  des  Allemands  was  the  shooting  of  seven  of.  the 
Germans  who  had  enlisted  into  the  Eighth  Vermont  from  New 
Orleans.  It  will  be  recollected  that  those  Teutonic  members 
of  the  regiment  were  residents  of  Louisiana  at  the  time  they 
volunteered  to  enter  the  army,  and  the  only  charge  ever  pre 
ferred  against  them  was  that  they  joined  the  Federal  troops 
instead  of  the  Confederate.  These  seven  happened  to  be 
among  the  prisoners  surrendered  by  Capt.  Hall,  and  were 
recognized  by  some  members  of  the  Confederate  guard  who 
had  formerly  known  them.  As  soon  as  this  information 
reached  the  Confederate  headquarters,  it  was  ascertained  or 
assumed  that  their  names  had  been  enrolled  for  conscription  at 
New  Orleans,  and  as  a  consequence  the  Confederacy  had  a 
claim  on  them  for  military  service.  On  this  flimsy  pretext  the 
poor  Germans  were  arrested  as  deserters,  and  denied  even  the 
common  civilities  that  humane  victors  «.re  wont  to  extend  to 
prisoners  taken  in  war. 

In  vain  the  doomed  men  protested  their  utter  innocence  of  the 
crime  laid  to  their  charge,  and  pleaded  that  the  act  of  enlist 
ment  was  an  exercise  of  their  rightful  privilege  as  citizens  of 
the  United  States.  Their  cruel  captors  would  not  listen  or 


64  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

show  them  any  mercy.  Without  allowing  the  Germans  to 
communicate  with  their  friends  or  make  afly  preparation  for 
their  own  defence,  a  court  martial  was  ordered  to  try  the  cases, 
which  went  through  a  farce  of  hearing  testimony,  and  returned 
a  quick  verdict  of  guilty.  So  they  were  condemned  to  be  pub 
licly  shot  as  deserters.  The  sentence  was  simply  an  atrocious, 
cold-blooded  murder  ;  but  no  one  who  knew  or  cared  for  them 
dared  to  interfere  with  its  execution,  or  lift  a  voice  of  remon 
strance  against  this  high-handed,  brutal  wrong,  which  the 
"barbarism  of  slavery"  had  so  well  fitted  the  Southerners  to 
exercise. 

It  was  a  pitiable  spectacle  when  these  seven  adopted  sons  of 
America  were  marched  forth  to  meet  a  felon's  death.  Brightly 
the  October  sun  smiled  upon  a  land  of  unsurpassed  natural 
beauty,  where  every  leaf  and  flower  reflected  the  grateful 
warmth  ;  but  it  did  not  touch  the  stony  hearts  of  Confederate 
military  despots,  nor  were  they  moved  by  the  sight  of  those 
heart-broken  men  going  to  their  own  execution  as  martyrs  to 
loyalty  and  a  noble  cause.  But  the  eye  of  the  Eternal  saw  that 
bloody  deed,  and  the  immutable  law  which  shall  eventually 
right  every  wrong  took  notice. 

Under  some  trees  beside  the  railroad  track  a  long  trench 
had  been  dug,  and  on  the  brink  the  seven  Germans  were 
ranged,  that  their  dead  bodies  might  drop  into  it  when  they 
fell.  Seventy  enlisted  Confederates  from  the  state  of  Louis 
iana  were  detailed  to  do  the  death  work.  Several  of  them, 
unwilling  to  take  part  in  such  revolting  and  doubtful  business, 
had  hired  substitutes.  But  when  the  command  was  given  a 
volley  of  seventy  muskets  was  fired,  and  the  victims  expired 
without  a  struggle.  There  was  one  blank  cartridge  fired,  and 
let  us  try  to  think,  for  humanity's  sake,  that  each  one  of  those 
forced  executioners  clung  to  the  hope  that  the  harmless  shot 
was  his.  Into  the  open  grave  the  warm  bodies  were  hastily 
thrust,  and  just  enough  earth  was  thrown  upon  them  to  hide 
them  from  the  face  of  the  accusing  sun.  Their  names  were : 
Bernard  Hurst,  Deidrich  Bahne,  John  Leichleiver,  Michael 
Leichleiver,  Michael  Masman,  Frank  Paul,  Gustave  C.  Becher. 


A    BROKEN-HEARTED    FATHER.  65 

Col.  Homer  B.  Sprague,  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  in  his 
account  of  this  tragic  affair,  writes  thus  : 

"  The  desolate  spot  has  a  mournful  interest  and  we  often  visited  it.  Over 
grown  with  weeds,  it  is  yet  easily  recognizable  beside  some  trees,  nearly 
abreast  with  the  earthworks  on  the  right  side  as  you  go  from  Algiers.  The 
traveller  who  has  either  sentiment  or  patriotism  will  hardly  restrain  his 
tears,  when  he  stands  there  and  listens  to  the  strain  of  the  father's  anguish, 
as  he  shovelled  the  dirt  away,  to  find  the  mouldering  remains  of  his  hand 
some  and  noble  boy.  Will  not  the  great  Republic  some  dajr  rear  a  monu 
ment  to  mark  the  last  resting-place  of  the  seven  martyrs,  who  died  for 
her  at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  in  the  summer  of  1862  ?" 

The  "handsome  and  noble  boy"  to  whom  Col.  Sprague 
alludes  was  an  only  son,  whose  aged  father  at  first  objected  to 
the  enlistment  of  his  much  loved  child,  and  he  called  on  Col. 
Thomas  to  consult  about  it.  "  I  cannot  bear,"  he  said,  with 
deep  feeling,  "  to  have  my  son  enter  an  army  to  fight  against 
the  government  of  the  United  States  !  I  dislike  to  have  him  go 
into  the  army  at  all,  but  I  fear  it  is  the  only  way  he  can  be  kept 
out  of  the  Confederate  service  ;  therefore  I  consent  that  he  shall 
go  with  you  to  save  the  cause  of  the  Union."  The  tears  rolled, 
down  his  cheeks  and  he  trembled  with  emotion,  as  he  added  : 
"  It  is  hard  to  let  him  go,  for  he  is  all  that  I  have." 

Who  can  portray  the  heart-rending  grief  of  such  a  father, 
when,  a  few  days  after  the  execution,  he  searched  out  the  body 
of  his  son  among  its  fellows  in  the  dust,  and  with  trembling 
hands  tenderly  bore  it  away  to  a  consecrated  resting-place  ? 
The  idol  of  his  love,  the  staff  of  his  age,  had  fallen,  and  who 
could  comfort  him  ? 

When  Col.  Thomas  heard  the  story  of  the  shooting  of  these 
men  he  reported  the  facts  to  General  Butler,  who  declared,  in  a 
forcible  manner  :  "  By  the  Eternal !  it  shall  cost  them  fourteen 
lives."  The  colonel  also  made  a  report  of  the  affair  in  writing, 
and  asked  for  a  court  of  inquiry,  to  investigate  the  deed ;  but 
before  action  was  taken,  Gen.  Butler  was  superseded  by  Gen. 
Banks,  and  the  government  never  sought  to  punish  the  instiga 
tors  of  this  military  murder. 

To  this  day  there  remains   in   the  treasury  of  Vermont  the 
5 


66  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

state  pay  of  seven  dollars  a  month  due  these  enlisted  Germans. 
But  it  has  never  been  drawn,  and  since  thenvar  closed,  though 
every  effort  has  been  made  to  find  the  lawful  claimants,  nothing 
has  been  heard  from  them. 

Wm.  H.  Brown  and  Dennis  Kean,  of  Company  G,  surren 
dered  by  Capt.  Hall,  were  recognized  on  reaching  Vicksburg  as 
deserters  from  the  Confederate  army,  and  were  consequently 
shot  March  7,  1863,  on  the  same  day  that  the  gun-boat  Diana 
was  captured  by  the  enemy. 

Before  the  regiment  broke  camp  at  Algiers  Orderly  Sergeant 
George  E.  Selleck,  of  Company  I,  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  vice  J.  C.  Morse. 

All  his  comrades  will  recollect  Andrew  McKenzie,  who  was 
drowned  at  Algiers,  and  how  he  became  a  member  of  Company 
B.  After  the  company  was  full  he  wished  to  enlist  in  it,  and 
it  was  agreed  that  if  he  would  go  South  with  them,  the  boys 
would  share  their  rations  with  him  until  a  vacancy  occurred. 
He  went,  and  at  New  York  one  man  deserted  the  ranks,  and 
McKenzie  took  his  place. 

The  promotions  from  the  Eighth  Vermont  to  other  regi 
ments,  made  during  the  fall  and  early  winter  months,  are  here 
given,  with  as  full  data  as  could  be  obtained ;  it  is  probable, 
however,  that  some  are  omitted,  because  the  records  are  not 
at  hand  :  Oscar  W.  Goodridge  and  Charles  W.  Blake,  of  Com 
pany  A,  were  made  captains  of  colored  volunteers.  Sergts. 
Augustine  P.  Hawley  and  Henry  C.  Abbott,  Company  C,  cap 
tains  of  Second  Louisiana  Volunteers.  Serg.  L.  I.  Winslow, 
Company  H,  captain  — .  Rev.  Isaac  Blake,  fifer  Company  B, 
chaplain  Third  Colored  Regiment.  Edward  D.  Mooney,  Com 
pany  B,  lieutenant  Fourth  United  States  Colored  Troops. 
Michael  B.  Tobin,  Company  A,  second  lieutenant  colored  regi 
ment.  Hiram  P.  Harney,  Company  B,  and  James  Noyes, 
Company  C,  were  made  second  lieutenants  of  the  colored 
national  guards  raised  under  direction  of  Col.  Thomas.  Sergt. 
Harvey  O.  Kiser,  Company  A,  and  William  K.  Crosby,  L.  K. 
Chamberlin,  Elijah  K.  Prouty,  Horace  W.  Kennedy,  and 
Hiram  L.  Whipple,  of  Company  C,  were  made  second  lieu- 


ISAAC  BLAKE,  Co.  B. 


LEAVING    ALGIERS.  67 

tenants  of  Louisiana  Volunteers.  Lucius  W.  Bissell,  Com 
pany  G,  first  lieutenant  Third  Louisiana  National  Guards, 
January,  1863.  Stillman  Smith,  Company  H,  second  lieu 
tenant  Second  Louisiana  Volunteers.  Capt.  H.  E.  Perkins, 
Company  F,  major  United  States  colored  regiment.  Lewis 
R.  Titus,  Parker  J.  Noyes,  and  Sumner  W.  Lewis,  Company 
C,  lieutenants  in  United  States  colored  regiments.  Warren  B. 
Stickney,  Company  H,  lieutenant  Ninety-ninth  United  States 
colored  infantry,  and  then  appointed  superintendent  of  first 
public  colored  schools  in  New  Orleans.  In  1885  he  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau,  in  Lou 
isiana.  William  S.  Peabody,  Company  D,  lieutenant  United 
States  colored  troops.  Rufus  H.  Clark,  Charles  B.  Fullington, 
Harvey  L.  Smith,  William  G.  Westover,  and  Charles  G.  Wood, 
of  Company  A,  were  also  promoted  and  received  commissions 
in  other  regiments.  Azariah  T.  Wild,  Company  D,  quarter 
master  third  colored  regiment.  First  Lieut.  J.  C.  Morse,  Com 
pany  I,  resigned  October  25,  1862.  '  First  Lieut.  A.  J.  Howard, 
Company  K,  died  November  18,  1862,  while  he  was  acting 
quartermaster.  Assistant  Surgeon  S.  H.  Currier  resigned 
October  20,  1862. 

The  members  of  the  regiment  will  have  pleasant  recollections 
of  Charles  W.  Blake,  or  "  Father  "  Blake,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  who  enlisted  as  fifer  in  Company  B.  He  often  held 
evening  religious  meetings  in  camp,  and  at  Algiers  he  fre 
quently  preached  to  the  colored  people.  Chaplain  Williams 
found  him  a  helpful  assistant  in  taking  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  he  often  said  the  funeral  service  over  a  dead 
comrade.  When  "Father"  Blake  was  promoted  to  the  chap 
laincy  of  a  colored  regiment,  all  felt  that  it  was  a  merited 
compliment  to  a  faithful  soldier  and  a  noble  man. 

For  weeks  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  occupied  a  camp  at 
Algiers,  and  felt  that  wherever  they  might  be  detailed  for  tem 
porary  service,  this  was  in  one  sense  a  home  to  which  they 
could  return  and  rejoin  their  comrades.  But  when  Gen.  Weit- 
zel  assumed  command  of  the  brigade  to  which  the  regiment 


68  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

belonged,  they  were  transferred  to  a  new  field  of  operations, 
and  the  old  camp  was  broken  up  and  desftrted.  Before  the 
movement  began,  however,  Gen.  Weitzel  selected  his  staff  offi 
cers,  and  complimented  both*  the  Eighth  Regiment  and  the 
officer,  by  detailing  Quartermaster  Fred  E.  Smith  for  his  acting 
commissary  of  subsistence. 

Having  received  orders  from  Gen.  Butler  to  advance  into  the 
La  Fourche  district  and  drive  out  the  Confederate  forces  con 
centrated  between  Donaldsonville  and  Thibodeaux,  Gen.  Weit 
zel  proceeded  thither  by  boat,  leaving  only  the  Eighth  Vermont 
behind.  This  movement  began  on  the  24th  of  October,  and 
the  troops  landed  at  Donaldsonville,  followed  down  the  bayou, 
and  meeting  the  enemy  at  Labadieville,  defeated  them  and  cap 
tured  two  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners. 

In  his  report  of  this  engagement,  Gen.  "  Dick  "  Taylor  says  : 

"  In  the  last  days  of  October  the  Federal  Gen.  Weitzel  brought  up  a 
force  of  some  four  thousand  from  New  Orleans,  landed  at  Donaldsonville, 
and  advanced  down  the  La  Fourche,  on  the  west  bank.  There  were  Con 
federates  on  both  sides  of  the  bayou,  but,  having  neglected  their  floating 
bridge,  they  could  not  unite.  With  his  own,  the  Eighteenth,  the  Crescent, 
Col.  McPheeters,  and  the  four-gun  battery  of  Capt.  Ralston, —  in  all  five 
hundred  men, —  Col.  Armand  resisted  Weitzel's  advance  at  Labadieville, 
eight  miles  above  Thibodeaux.  The  fighting  was  severe,  and  Armand  only 
retired  after  his  ammunition  was  exhausted  ;  but  he  lost  many  killed  and 
wounded,  and  some  few  prisoners.  Col.  McPheeters  was  among  the 
former,  and  Captains  Ralston  and  Story  among  the  latter. 

"  The  loss  of  the  Federals  prevented  Weitzel  from  attempting  a  pursuit, 
and  Mouton,  who  deemed  it /necessary  to  retire  across  Berwick  bay,  was 
not  interrupted  in  his  movement." 

On  the  same  day  that  the  brigade  took  its  departure,  the  first 
regiment  of  native  colored  guards  reported  to  Col.  Thomas  at 
Algiers.  He  also  received  orders  to  proceed  up  the  track  of 
the  New  Orleans  and  Opelousas  Railroad,  dislodge  the  enemy 
at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  and  form  a  junction  with  Weitzel  at 
La  Fourche  Crossing.  In  aid  of  this  plan  Admiral  Farragut 
had  sent  a  fleet  around  to  Berwick  bay,  under  command  of 
Commodore  Buchanan,  to  intercept  the  crossing  of  the  enemy 
at  Brashear  City. 


IN   LINE    OF   BATTLE.  69 

In  the  afternoon  of  October  25th  Col.  Thomas  started  in 
pursuance  of  his  orders,  and  marched  his  two  regiments  seven 
miles  along  the  railway,  where  they  bivouacked  for  the  night. 
For  the  next  twenty  miles  the  long  unused  track  was  found  to 
be  so  overgrown  with  thick  grass  that  the  locomotive  of  their 
construction  train  was  impeded,  and  could  make  no  headway. 
But  the  orders  were  to  open  the  road  as  they  went  along,  and 
put  it  in  running  order,  and  some  plan  must  be  devised  for 
removing  the  troublesome  grass.  There  seemed  to  be  but  one 
way  of  effectually  doing  this,  and  that  was  to  pull  it  up  with 
their  hands,  as  the  boys  had  often  done  with  weeds  in  their  gar 
dens  at  home.  At  first  the  men  thought  that  grubbing  up 
grass  was  rather  undignified  work  for  soldiers ;  but  soon  the 
white  regiment  taking  the  lead  fell  to  work  with  a  will,  and  the 
colored  men  followed  their  good  example  without  complaint. 
As  the  men  proceeded  they  found  it  necessary  to  rebuild  cul 
verts  that  had  been  destroyed,  and  replace  rails  that  had  been 
torn  up,  so  that  they  were  two  days  in  reaching  Boutee  station, 
where  they  halted  for  the  night. 

At  that  point  Col.  Thomas  was  informed  by  the  negroes 
that  the  forces  of  the  enemy  were  massed  at  Bayou  des  Alle- 
mands,  and  had  the  place  well  fortified.  On  resuming  the 
march  next  morning,  therefore,  he  purposed  to  continue  the 
track  repairs  as  he  went  forward,  attack  the  enemy  when  he 
came  upon  them,  and  sleep  in  Des  Allemands  that  night.  As 
a  precaution  he  ordered  two  pieces  from  a  Massachussetts  bat 
tery  to  be  mounted  on  a  platform-car  in  front  of  the  engine, 
and  loaded,  ready  for  action  if  required.  The  manual  labor  of 
that  day  proved  to  be  much  the  same  as  that  already  expe 
rienced  —  the  men  had  to  straighten  and  spike  down  rails,  cut 
timber  in  the  woods  for  sleepers  to  replace  those  that  were  miss 
ing,  remove  trees  and  other  obstructions  which  had  been  put 
upon  the  track,  and,  for  a  change,  pull  up  grass.  In  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon  they  approached  a  curve  in  the  road  which, 
when  rounded,  would  bring  them  in  sight  of  Des  Allemands  ; 
and  there  a  halt  was  made  while  the  colonel  formed  his  men  for 
action.  The  artillery-men  took  places  on  the  platform-car  by 


70  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT, 

their  guns  ;  the  Eighth  Vermont  was  to  move  to  the  attack  on 
the  right  of  the  track,  and  the  colored  regiment  on  the  left. 

Feeling  uncertain  how  the  native  guards  would  behave  under 
fire,  and  whether  their  courage  could  be  relied  on,  Col.  Thomas 
went  down  in  front  of  the  regiment,  before  ordering  an  advance, 
and  addressed  the  colored  men.  He  told  them,  in  substance, 
that  they  were  about  to  meet  the  enemy,  and  that  not  a  man 
must  falter  ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  if  one  of  you  hesitates,  I  shall 
shoot  him  on  the  spot."  Then  he  reminded  them  that  they 
were  to  fight  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  their 
country ;  to  avenge  the  blood  that  had  flowed  from  the  lacerated 
backs  of  themselves,  their  mothers,  wives,  and  sweethearts  ; 
and  woe  to  the  man  who  flinched.  While  speaking,  the 
colonel  was  shrewdly  noting  the  effect  produced  by  his  words, 
and  was  gratified  by  seeing  them  close  their  lips  with  firm 
determination,  and  show  by  their  earnest  looks  that  they  would 
do  their  duty. 

Everything  being  ready,  the  skirmishers  were  ordered  to 
advance,  and  at  the  word  of  command  the  train  and  troops 
moved  forward.  Pressing  eagerly  on,  the  skirmishers  soon 
reached  the  bayou,  only  to  find  it  a  deserted  and  smoking  ruin  ; 
and  on  the  arrival  of  the  main  body,  instead  of  an  enemy  to 
attack,  they  found  evidence  on  every  hand  that  the  Confed 
erates  had  fled  at  their  approach.  But  they  had  first  set  fire 
to  everything  about  the  station  and  the  long  bridge  across  the 
bayou,  and  in  their  haste  had  left  behind  four  pieces  of  artillery, 
which  were  seized  as  trophies.  Referring  to  this  matter,  Gen. 
Taylor  says:  "A  few  days  after  the  Des  Allemands  affair  I 

was  called  north Minute  instructions  were  given 

Col.  Waller.  The  danger  to  be  guarded  against  was  pointed 
out,  ....  and  this  trap  Waller  fell  into.  Most  of  his 
men  escaped  by  abandoning  arms,  horses,  etc." 

Once  more,  therefore,  the  men  addressed  themselves  to  the 
business  of  repairing  the  railroad,  and  spent  two  days  in  re 
building  the  burned  bridge  and  making  it  safe  and  passa 
ble.  A  train  was  dispatched  to  Algiers  for  tools  and  tim 
ber  before  the  job  could  be  finished,  and  then  the  force 


DISOBEYING    ORDERS.  71 

pushed  forward  to  La  Fourche  Crossing  without  any  serious 
delay. 

In  his  report  to  the  adjutant  general  of  Vermont,  Col. 
Thomas  thus  tersely  sums  up  the  work  accomplished  during 
that  march:  "The  command  pulled  the  luxurious  grass  over 
twenty  miles  of  track,  built  eighteen  culverts  from  ten  to 
twenty  feet  long,  rebuilt  what  was  estimated  four  miles  of 
track,  rebuilt  a  bridge  475  feet  long,  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
road,  and  captured  seven  cannon,  all  in  one  week,  for  which 
they  received  from  Maj.  Gen.  Butler  a  high  compliment  for 
energy  and  skill." 

On  the  1 8th  of  November  the  regiment  met  with  a  great  loss 
in  the  death  of  Lieut.  A.  J.  Howard,  acting  quartermaster,  and 
his  place  was  subsequently  filled  by  the  promotion  of  Lieut. 
S.  E.  Howard. 

At  La  Fourche  Crossing  the  troops  halted  for  a  day,  and 
then  Gen.  Weitzel  ordered  Col.  Thomas  to  continue  his  recon 
struction  march  to  Brashear  City,  and  put  the  road  in  order  as 
he  advanced.  At  Bayou  Boeuf  he  found  that  the  enemy  had 
burned  another  bridge  which  was  675  feet  in  length.  But  his 
men  were  already  used  to  bridge-building,  and  set  about  the 
work  at  once,  actually  cutting  the  timber  in  the  adjacent  woods 
and  preparing  it  for  use.  In  five  days  the  job  was  finished,  and 
the  train  passed  across  the  new  structure  in  safety.  During 
this  period  Col.  Thomas,  aware  that  squads  of  the  enemy  were 
prowling  about  the  country,  threw  out  his  pickets  up  and  down 
the  bayou,  with  strict  orders  to  use  every  means  to  prevent 
surprises  and  sudden  attacks. 

There  was  considerable  excitement  one  night  within  the 
lines,  because  Private  Hutchins,  one  of  the  pickets,  shot 
an  officer  for  refusing  to  obey  a  challenge  to  "halt,  dismount, 
and  give  the  countersign."  Complaint  was  immediately 
made  to  Col.  Thomas,  who,  on  investigating  the  case,  found 
that  the  blame  lay  with  the  injured  party.  He,  with  a  brother 
officer,  being  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  refused  to  obey  the 
order  of  the  sentinel,  and  Hutchins  fired,  as  he  was  bound  to, 
giving  the  defiant  officer  an  ugly  wound  in  the  shoulder.  It 


72  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

was  a  trying  ordeal  for  a  private ;  but  next  morning  Col. 
Thomas  sent  for  Hutchins,  told  him  he  did  fust  right,  and,  to 
show  his  appreciation  of  a  soldier  who  obeyed  orders,  promoted 
him  to  be  sergeant  of  Company  E. 

About  twenty  paroled  prisoners  came  into  camp  one  even 
ing  at  Bayou  Boeuf,  who  had  been  ordered  to  report  to  Col. 
Thomas,  by  Commodore  Buchanan,  commander  of  the  fleet 
at  Brashear  City.  The  headquarters  of  the  colonel  and 
Adjutant  Barstow  were  in  a  small  room  of  a  house  near 
the  track,  and  thither  the  prisoners  went  and  showed  their 
paroles.  Col.  Thomas  received  them  pleasantly,  invited  them 
in,  and  seated  them  about  the  room  as  best  he  could.  He 
then  seated  himself  on  a  box  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  so 
as  to  face  as  many  of  the  prisoners  as  possible.  It  was  already 
dark,  and  he  held  in  his  hand  a  tallow  candle,  while  Adjutant 
Barstow  sat  in  a  corner  near  a  table  on  which  was  another 
candle,  and  the  dim  lights  flared  in  the  faces  that  huddled 
together  before  them. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  colonel,  "  I  want  to  talk  with  you  a 
little.  You  are  not  obliged  to  answer  any  more  than  you  have 
a  mind  to  ;  but  I  always  tell  men  to  begin  with,  that  what  they 
do  say  must  be  the  truth  ;  they  must  n't  tell  me  a  lie.  Talk  as 
much  or  as  little  as  you  choose  ;  but  understand,  whatever  you 
tell  me  must  be  exactly  the  truth  ;  —  because  if  you  tell  me  a 
lie  I  can  catch  you  in  it,  and  I  will  punish  you  for  it  as  quick  as 
though  you  were  spies.  'Do  n't  know  but  I  would  hang  you  be 
fore  you  got  out  of  this  room.  This  is  what  I  tell  my  own 
men  and  every  man  who  comes  in  contact  with  me." 

Having  uttered  this  speech  in  a  stern  voice,  and  produced  as 
he  thought  the  desired  effect,  the  colonel  changed  his  tone,  and 
in  a  familiar  way  inquired  what  their  occupations  were  before 
they  enlisted  into  the  Confederate  service.  In  this  way  he  soon 
drew  forth  the  information  that  they  had  been  common  labor 
ers  when  they  enlisted,  and  to  what  companies  they  belonged. 
"  In  this  pleasant  way,  I  chatted  with  the  prisoners  perhaps 
twenty  or  thirty  minutes,"  said  Col.  Thomas,  relating  the 


STAMPS.  73 

affair,  "for  I  had  addressed  them  pretty  sharply  at  first,  and 
wished  to  quiet  any  nervousness  that  my  words  might  have 
caused.  Remember,  I  sat  there  in  the  centre  of  the  group  with 
that  weird  light  in  my  hand  and  my  eyes  on  the  men  before 
me;  and  when  they  were  at  their  ease  and  had  grown  quite 
communicative,  suddenly  I  threw  the  light  up  over  my  head 
out  of  the  way  of  my  eyes,  and  demanded  in  a  loud,  stern 
voice  :  '  How  many  of  you  had  a  hand  in  shooting  my  men  at 
Des  Allemands  ? '  No  one  answered,  and  I  said,  '  There  are  four 
of  you,'  looking  round  on  all  of  them.  '  Remember  what  I  told 
you  about  lying.  You  did — and  you — and  you  —  and  you,' 
I  shouted  in  quick  succession,  pointing  them  out  as  I  spoke, 
and  every  one  said  'Yes.'  'There  is  one  more,'  I  said.  'You, 
sir,  are  the  man,'  and  my  finger  was  pointed  directly  at  him. 
But  he  denied.  '  Take  care, '  I  shouted,  with  all  the  energy  I 
could  throw  into  my  voice.  But  he  still  said  'No,'  and  the 
others  agreed  with  him.  "  You  are  not  the  man,'  I  added,  still 
keeping  my  eyes  fixed  sternly  on  him, '  I  made  a  mistake  ! '  He 
was  nearly  frightened  to  death,  but  I  felt  convinced  that  he 
was  innocent.  Then  the  men  made  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and 
told  me  all  they  knew  about  the  shooting  of  the  seven  Ger 
mans,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  the  only  correct  account  I  ever 
received." 

Company  C  took  with  them  from  Vermont  a  colored  barber 
by  the  name  of  Stamps,  who  served  them  as  a  cook,  and  at 
intervals  plied  his  tonsorial  vocation.  He  was  allowed  consid 
erable  freedom,  and  when  the  regiment  was  at  Bayou  Boeuf  he 
went  outside  the  lines,  and  did  sundry  foraging  on  his  own 
account.  At  length  it  began  to  be  suspected  that  Stamps  was 
not  over-scrupulous  in  the  choice  of  plunder  ;  for  two  old  ladies 
called  at  headquarters  one  day  complaining  that  a  colored  man, 
wearing  the  Federal  uniform,  had  robbed  them  of  their  table- 
silver  and  other  valuables.  Col.  Thomas  was  loth  to  believe 
that  any  one  in  his  command  had  been  guilty  of  such  theft, 
but  the  ladies  insisted  that  they  had  followed  the  robber  into 
camp,  and  on  seeing  Stamps,  identified  him  as  the  culprit. 

Stamps  was  accordingly  subjected  to  close  questioning,  and 


74  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

after  some  equivocation  admitted  that  he  had  taken  a  few 
things,  but  refused  to  restore  the  stolen  property.  The  colonel 
insisted,  but  Stamps  was  stubborn.  Finally  the  commander 
resorted  to  a  favorite  method  of  persuasion,  and  threatened  to 
hang  him  if  he  did  not  yield.  But  Stamps  was  not  scared, 
or,  if  he  was,  did  not  show  it,  and  the  order  was  given  to 
throw  a  rope  over  the  limb  of  a  tree,  stand  the  prisoner  on  a 
barrel  underneath,  and  place  the  rope  around  his  neck. 

"  Now,"  said  the  resolute  colonel,  "  I  will  give  you  just  two 
minutes  to  tell  where  the  silver  is  that  you  stole."  Stamps 
remained  quiet  for  about  half  the  probationary  time,  and  did  not 
utter  a  word.  Apparently  he  was  quite  indifferent  to  the  feeling 
of  a  noose  tightening  around  his  throat.  The  last  sixty  seconds 
were  rapidly  ticking  away  on  the  dial  of  the  colonel's  watch, 
and  there  were  signs  that  the  doomed  man  had  something  on 
his  mind  to  which  he  wished  to  give  expression  before  the 
barrel  should  be  kicked  from  under  his  dangling  form.  "  Tell 
'em  up  in  Vermont,"  said  he,  "tell  'em  old  Stamps  lived  poor, 
but  died  rich."  This  was  too  much  for  the  gravity  of  Col. 
Thomas,  and  he  ordered  the  man  taken  down  and  placed  under 
a  guard.  But  old  Stamps  never  told  where  he  had  secreted  his 
ill-gotten  gains. 

One  incident  which  comrades  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  fre 
quently  mention  when  recalling  the  days  at  the  Bayou  Boeuf,  was 
the  explosion  of  an  ammunition  train.  It  was  moving  up  the 
railroad,  and  was  near  the  La  Fourche  Crossing,  when  the  train 
suddenly  "  blew  up, "  scattering  the  fragments  in  a  lively 
manner.  Private  Peabody,  of  Company  D,  was  killed,  and  Lieut. 
C.  H.  Nason,  of  Company  F,  was  hurled  into  the  air  and  landed 
in  an  adjacent  cane-field,  severely  hurt. 

BRASHEAR    CITY. 

Col.  Thomas  and  his  regiment  finished  the  work  of  repairs, 
and  reached  Brashear  City  on  the  8th  of  December,  1862,  hav 
ing  begun  the  expedition  October  26th.  Eighty  miles  of  track 
had  been  put  in  running  order,  and  railway  and  telegraphic  com- 


CONFEDERATE    RETALIATION.  75 

munication  was  opened  from  Algiers  on  the  Mississippi  to 
Berwick  bay.  At  this  terminus  of  the  road  the  troops  went 
into  camp  and  remained  more  than  a  month,  garrisoning  the 
place,  and  doing  picket  duty  up  and  down  the  bayou.  Details 
were  also  made  from  time  to  time  to  operate  the  railroad,  and 
Capt.  H.  E.  Foster,  of  Company  C,  was  appointed  superintend 
ent  of  motive  power. 

Several  important  promotions  were  made  while  the  regiment 
tarried  at  Brashear  City.  Lieut.  Col.  Brown,  who  had  been 
detailed  from  his  command  since  May,  resigned,  and  was  dis 
charged  from  the  service;  and  on  the  23d 'of  December  Maj. 
Charles  Dillingham  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy.  Capt.  L.  M. 
Grout,  of  Company  A,  was  made  major ;  First  Lieut.  Moses 
McFarland  was  made  captain  of  Company  A,  Second  Lieut.  L. 
M.  Hutchinson  was  made  first  lieutenant,  and  Corporal  A.  K. 
Cooper  was  made  second  lieutenant. 

It  may  have  detracted  somewhat  from  the  pleasure  of  official 
promotions,  that  about  the  time  those  just  mentioned  were 
made,  the  camp  were  informed  of  the  proclamation  issued  by 
Jefferson  Davis,  the  Confederate  president,  wherein  he  recounted 
the  offensive  acts  of  Maj.  Gen.  Butler,  at  New  Orleans,  such  as 
the  execution  of  Mumford  for  tearing  down  the  Union  flag,  the 
confiscation  of  private  and  corporate  property,  and  the  order  to 
send  southern  women  to  prison,  and  in  retaliation  declared 
"  that  all  commissioned  officers  in  the  command  of  said  Benja 
min  F.  Butler  be  declared  not  entitled  to  be  considered  as 
soldiers  engaged  in  honorable  warfare,  but  as  robbers  and 
criminals  deserving  death,  and  that  they  and  each  of  them  be, 
whenever  captured,  reserved  for  execution." 

Incidents  both  grave  and  ludicrous  in  character  were  continu 
ally  happening  during  the  stay  at  Brashear  City,  and  the  daily 
experiences  and  life  of  the  soldiers  were  not  unlike  those  at 
Algiers  a  few  weeks  earlier  in  the  season.  One  day  a  gentle 
man  named  Van  Patten  came  into  camp.  He  formerly  lived  in 
New  York,  but  had  married  a  wife  near  Bayou  Boeuf,  and  was 
returning  from  a  visit  to  his  plantation.  He  made  himself  quite 
agreeable,  and  related  a  description  of  the  retreat  of  the  rebels 


76  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

on  the  approach  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  that  was  given  him  by 
an  old  negro  who  had  always  lived  on  his  pla<?e.  Part  of  it  ran 
thus  : 

"  Why,  Massa  van  Patten,  do  n't  you  tink  dat  deze  Suverners 
come  runnin'  one  day  and  drivin'  all  de  niggers  an'  de  mules 
away ;  and  dey  said  dat  dey  had  burned  de  bridge  so  bad  dat 
de  d — d  Yankes  could  n't  build  it  dis  yeah.  And  now  do  n't 
you  tink,  it  wa'  n't  mo'  dan'  tree  or  fo'  days,  de  fust  ting  I 
knowed,  'long  come  de  ole  injine,  puffin  and  snortin,'  all  cov 
ered  wid  doze  Norvun  fellahs." 

A  singular  accident  hapened  at  that  station,  one  day,  to  a 
man  who  was  crossing  the  track  to  go  on  picket  duty.  His  toe 
caught  under  the  rail,  and  he  was  thrown  flat  on  his  face,  while 
the  rifle  which  he  was  carrying  across  his  shoulder  fell  directly 
under  him,  and  was  discharged  by  the  hammer  striking  on  the 
opposite  rail.  The  ball  passed  under  him  from  his  head  the 
entire  length  of  his  body,  and  wounded  his  foot. 

On  another  occasion  Orderly  Sergt.  Howard  and  Private 
Smith,  of  Company  H,  procured  a  boat  and  rowed  down  the 
bayou  some  three  miles,  where  they  found  a  plantation  and  a 
number  of  slaves.  They  told  the  negroes  they  had  come  away 
from  the  far  North  to  liberate  them ;  and  in  spite  of  the  remon 
strance  of  the  owner,  they  brought  the  entire  squad  back  with 
them  into  camp.  Referring  to  this  incident  in  later  years,  Sergt. 
Howard  is  fond  of  telling  his  friends  that  he  was  the  first  offi 
cial  emancipator  of  slaves  in  the  department  of  the  Gulf. 

During  the  period  of  his  military  service,  Col.  Thomas  did 
not  altogether  lay  aside  his  vocation  of  judge,  for  it  was  an 
event  of  almost  daily  occurrence  for  parties  arrested  on  petty 
charges  to  be  brought  before  him  for  examination.  Among  a 
squad  of  such  officers  there  appeared  one  morning  a  tall,  sober- 
looking  man,  who  had  been  caught  by  a  sentinel  in  the  colored 
regiment,  in  the  act  of  running  the  picket  guard.  His  sable 
captor  was  called  in  and  ordered  to  state  his  charge  in  detail, 
which  he  did  as  follows  : 

"  Well,  Massa  Colonel,  dis  man  was  stealin'  by  de  lock  ob  de 
canal,  and  I  called  out  to  him  to  halt,  and  he  did  n't  halt  ;  but 


A    CLERICAL   PICKET-RUNNER.  77 

he  passed  on  to  go  under  de  shade  ob  de  masonry.  I  pinted 
my  gun  at  him  and  tole  him  to  stop  and  come  back.  He  said 
he  wanted  to  go  ober  dar,  and  would  make  it  all  right  wiv  me, 
if  I  would  let  him  go  'long  ;  and  he  den  spoke  in  der  low  voice, 
and  said  he  would  give  me  one  half  dollar.  But  I  would  n't 
take  none  of  his  money  So  I  captured  him,  and  brung  him  in." 

"You  must  feel  quite  flattered  at  such  a  report,"  observed 
the  colonel ;  "  where  were  you  born  ?  " 

"Well,  sir,  I  was  born  in  New  England,"  replied  the  prisoner. 

"  What !  born  in  New  England,  and  trying  to  run  my 
pickets  ? " 

"But  please  remember,"  said  the  accused,  "that  I  wanted  to 
get  home  and  attend  to  my  profession." 

"What  is  your  profession  ?  "  said  Col.  Thomas. 

"  I  am  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,"  replied  the  man  solemnly. 

The  colonel  eyed  him  sharply,  as  though  taking  an  inventory 
of  the  clerical  prisoner's  intellectual  and  spiritual  outfit,  then 
continued  forcibly : 

"  A  minister  of  the  Gospel, —  a  New  England  born  man, — 
and  down  here  disobeying  the  laws  of  the  land,  trying  to  steal 
by  my  pickets,  and  go  over  to  the  enemy !  What,  sir,  do  you 
think  will  become  of  a  man  who  does  such  things  against  the 
law  of  the  best  country  the  sun  ever  shone  upon  ?  " 

The  man  began  to  realize  that  it  was  no  ecclesiastical  tribu 
nal  before  which  he  was  arraigned. 

"Where  do  you  think  you  will  go  to,"  added  the  colonel, 
"when  you  die?" 

"Well,  colonel,  I  humbly  hope  to  reach  heaven  at  last,"  he 
drawled  out,  with  much  nasal  cant  in  his  tone ;  but  the  next 
words  from  the  stern  questioner  startled  him. 

"  Sir,  do  you  think  Gen.  Washington  and  Ethan  Allen 
would  allow  any  such  d — d  scoundrel  as  you  to. go  to  heaven, 
after  trying  to  jump  my  picket  lines  ?  " 

Maj.  Dillingham,  who  was  near  by,  interrupted  him  with  the 
query  : 

"  Do  you  think  that  Gen.  Washington  is  in  command  there, 
colonel  ? " 


78  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

"  By  the  eternal  !  sir,  I  do  think  he  has  got  something  to 
say  about  such  d — d  villains  coming  into  triose  quarters,"  was 
the  colonel's  emphatic  answer. 

A  good  story  is  told  by  one  of  the  boys,  who  must  have  been 
in  a  position  to  know  whereof  he  spoke,  concerning  a  gallant 
young  man  who  championed  the  cause  of  an  injured  lady,  with  a 
loyal  devotion  worthy  of  a  knight  of  chivalry.  She  came  into 
camp  one  day  from  Bayou  Boeuf,  claiming  to  be  a  staunch 
Union  woman,  whose  husband  was  a  relative  of  ex-Secre 
tary  Chase.  She  complained  that  she  was  molested  by  thieves, 
who  entered  her  premises  at  night  and  robbed  her  of  live-stock 
and  family  stores,  and  she  asked  for  the  protection  of  a  guard. 
Col.  Thomas,  having  satisfied  himself  that  she  was  a  deserving, 
woman,  detailed  a  young  commissioned  officer  who  was  just 
recovering  from  a  severe  illness,  with  instructions  to  remain  at 
her  house  and  recuperate,  and  if  he  found  robbers  prowling 
around  the  place  at  night,  to  shoot  'em. 

Deeply  sensible  of  his  great  responsibility,  this  young  man- 
did  not  permit  slumber  to  visit  his  eyelids  during  the  first  night 
spent  at  the  lady's  house,  but  there  was  no  disturbance.  But 
the  next  night  weariness  overcame  him,  and  he  slept  pro 
foundly  till  morning,  and  then  rose  to  find  that  a  sleek  grunter 
was  missing  from  the  well-stocked  swine-yard.  The  discovery 
roused  him  to  sleepless  vigils  during  the  third  period  of  his  noc 
turnal  watch,  and  about  midnight  he  heard  a  short,  angry  "  woof  ! 
woof!"  which  warned  him  that  the  defenceless  swine  were  again 
endangered.  Seizing  his  ready  revolver,  the  youthful  brave 
crept  noiselessly  to  the  spot  whence  the  sound  came.  It  was 
very  dark,  and  he  approached  .within  a  few  feet  of  several  men, 
who  were  conversing  in  suppressed  whispers,  and  a  moment 
later  he  observed  one  of  them  trying  to  dispatch  one  of  the  hogs 
with  an  axe. 

It  was  time  to  interfere,  and  pointing  his  weapon  in  the 
direction  of  the  party  as  nearly  as  he  could,  he  fired  five 
shots,  at  the  same  time  stamping  with  his  foot  and  shouting  : 
"  Come  on,  boys,  we've  got  'em  !"  The  robbers  gave  a  fright 
ened  yell,  and  scurried  across  the  field,  and  the  guard  fell  back 


GENERAL    BUTLER.  79 

within  the  house  and  reloaded  his  pistol.  Soon  there  was  a 
loud  knocking  at  the  front  door,  and  in  reply  to  his  challenge, 
"  Who  's  there  ?  "  he  was  told  that  his  firing  had  been  heard  at 
the  picket  station  near  by,  and  the  officer  in  command  wished 
to  know  what  the  trouble  was.  Being  admitted,  the  officer 
further  explained  he  had  just  met  some  fugitives  who  escaped 
into  a  corn-field,  but  one  of  their  number,  a  desperate  character 
named  Pickens,  who  had  been  the  curse  of  the  neighborhood, 
was  severely  wounded,  and  made  prisoner.  There  was  no  more 
petty  thieving  on  those  premises  ;  and  although  the  lady  could 
not  consistently  reward  her  champion  with  her  hand,  after  the 
manner  of  ladies  in  the  tales  of  knight  errantry,  Adj.  Barstow 
tendered  the  youth  a  little  supper  on  his  return  to  camp,  and,, 
in  a  felicitous  speech,  complimented  him  for  his  prowess,  and 
dubbed  him  "the  hero,  not  of  Cowpens,  but  of  hog-pens." 

It  is  fitting  that  a  word  should  be  said  in  this  volume  con 
cerning  Gen.  Butler.  During  the  first  eight  months  of  active 
service  the  regiment  was  under  his  command,  doing  duty  in  the 
department  of  the  Gulf.  For  several  weeks  the  men  were 
under  his  immediate  supervision  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans, 
and  his  considerate  care  for  them  won  the  high  regard  of  both 
officers  and  privates.  Gen.  Butler,  too,  came  to  know  and  to 
confide  in  the  regiment  and  its  leader,  Col.  Thomas,  whom  he 
soon  placed  in  command  of  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

Concerning  the  relations  between  Gen.  Butler  and  the  army 
serving  under  him  there  can  be  but  one  opinion.  He  realized  the 
dangers  to  which  they  were  exposed  in  that  sickly,  semi-tropical 
climate,  and  did  all  that  was  in  his  power  to  shield  them.  He 
considered  their  inexperience  in  military  duties,  he  insisted 
that  the  sick  and  wounded  should  have  the  best  of  care,  and 
that  the  dead  should  be  suitably  buried  and  honors  paid  to  their 
memory. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  on  their  part  felt  the  utmost  confidence 
in  the  ability  and  devoted  loyalty  of  their  major  general.  They 
believed  him  humane  as  well  as  brave  ;  they  respected  him  as  an 
officer  and  loved  him  as  a  man.  From  personal  knowledge  of 


80  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

the  facts,  they  gladly  indorse  the  statements  in  the  general's 
farewell  address  to  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans:  "I  found 
you  captured,  but  not  surrendered  ;  conquered,  but  not  orderly  ; 
relieved  from  the  presence  of  an  army,  but  incapable  of  taking- 
care  of  yourselves.  I  restored  order,  punished  crime,  opened 
commerce,  brought  provisions  to  your  starving  people,  reformed 
your  currency,  and  gave  you  quiet  protection,  such  as  you  had 

not  enjoyed  for  many  years I  found  the  dungeon, 

the  chain,  and  the  lash  your  only  means  of  enforcing  obedience 
in  your  servants.  I  leave  them  peaceful,  laborious,  controlled 
by  the  laws  of  kindness  and  justice." 

To  this  it  may  be  added  with  equal  truth  that  he  and  his  sol 
diers  patiently  endured  obloquy  and  insult  until  he  could  cure 
it  ;  he  prevented  the  yellow  fever  from  visiting  the  city  for 
many  years ;  he  revived  the  ruined  business  of  the  city  and 
added  millions  to  its  wealth  ;  he  cleansed  and  improved  the 
streets  and  thoroughfares  ;  he  gave  remunerative  employment 
to  the  poor,  and  bettered  the  condition  of  the  colored  popu 
lation,  both  slave  and  free. 

Besides  caring  for  the  welfare  of  a  great  city,  Gen.  Butler 
was  prompt  and  efficient  in  the  work  of  putting  down  the 
Rebellion,  and  opening  to  commerce  the  great  waterway  of  the 
Mississippi. 

Twenty-four  years  after  his  visit  to  Vermont  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  troops,  Gen.  Butler  bears  grateful  testimony  to  the 
character  and  nvorth  of  the  men  who  responded  to  his  call,,  in 
the  following  letter : 

BOSTON,  November  16,  1885. 

Dear  Sir :  I  have  your  letter,  saying  that  the  history  of  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  is  about  to  be  published.  No  regiment  has  a  better  one.  I  have  the 
most  kindly  and  grateful  remembrances  for  the  state  of  Vermont  —  Gover 
nor  Fairbanks,  as  is  my  memory — in  enabling  that  regiment  to  be  raised; 
and  I  believe  a  special  act  of  the  legislature  was- passed  that  it  might  be 
raised.  I  have  a  very  vivid  remembrance  of  the  kindness  with  which  I 
was  treated  by  the  executive  and  legislative  branches  of  the  government  of 
the  state  of  Vermont  in  that  regard,  when  I  visited  its  capital  in  pursuance 
of  the  instructions  of  the  President  to  have  a  regiment  raised  for  southern 
service.  The  recruiting  of  the  Eighth  was  promptly  done,  and  no  better 


GENERAL    BUTLER.  8 1 

men  as  a  body  ever  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States.  It  went  to 
Ship  Island,  thence  to  New  Orleans,  when  the  army  took  possession,  thence 
it  was  sent  across  the  river  to  take  possession  of  Algiers,  thence  thrown 
out  as  an  out-post  regiment  to  hold  the  line  of  railroad  and  keep  open  our 
communications  with  Bayou  Teche,  and  thence  it  joined  Weitzel's  expedi 
tionary  force  in  which  the  whole  of  Western  Louisiana  was  captured,  as 
against  the  forces  of  General  Dick  Taylor.  I  remember  the  high  enco 
mium  given  to  the  regiment  by  General  Weitzel,  and  the  regiment  never 
had  anything  else  for  its  behavior  in  any  position  in  which  it  was  placed. 
I  would  speak  of  its  officers  by  name,  but  they  will  appear  in  your  history, 
and  there  is  no  need  of  specifying  the  officers  where  all  did  their  duty  so 
nobly  and  well.  I  am, 

Very  truly. 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

BEXJ.  F.  BUTLER. 
GEORGE    N.   CARPENTER,    ESQ.. 

31  Milk  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 


III. 


BATTLE    OF    THE    COTTON. 

THE  Eighth  Vermont  rested  in  camp  at  Brashear  City  after 
the  opening  of  the  railroad  in  November ;  but  on  the  eighth  of 
January,  1863,  they  were  ordered  to  move  to  Camp  Stevens 
near  Thibodeaux.  Two  days  later  a  second  order  came  to 
return  again  to  Brashear  City,  equipped  with  three  days'  cooked 
rations.  This  meant  business,  though  the  men  did  not  know  at 
that  time  its  full  import.  But  some  new  expedition  was  on  foot* 
in  which  the  entire  brigade  was  expected  to  engage. 

Gen.  Banks,  in  carrying  out  the  plans  already  matured  by 
Gen.  Butler,  whom  he  superseded  in  the  department  of  the  Gulf, 
had  learned  that  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Taylor  had  a  formid 
able  gun-boat  in  the  Bayou  Teche,  called  the  Cotton,  and  were 
preparing  other  boats  for  offensive  warfare.  He  consequently 
ordered  Weitzel  to  unite  with  the  naval  force  in  the  bayou,  and 
destroy  this  dangerous  craft. 

That  gun-boat,  which, had  been  the  terror  of  the  Teche,  was 
named  after  John  L.  Cotton,  a  wealthy  planter  of  Louisiana. 
He  was  originally  an  ardent  Union  man,  and  opposed  secession 
to  the  last,  as  did  nearly  all  the  citizens  of  the  Attakapas 
country.  But  after  the  state  legislature  passed  the  ordinance  of 
secession,  he  espoused  the  Confederate  cause  with  equal  enthu 
siasm  ;  and  as  a  contribution  to  the  defences  of  the  newly 
organized  government,  he  fitted  out  a  river  steamer  which  he 
owned,  equipped  it  as  a  gun-boat,  and  presented  it  to  the  Con 
federacy.  The  full  name  of  the  boat,  therefore,  was  the  John 


ADVANCING    ON    THE    COTTON.  83 

L.  Cotton  ;  and  it  was  partially  iron-clad  and  carried  a  heavy 
armament.  The  commander  was  Capt.  Fuller,  a  western 
steamboat  man,  ''one  of  the  bravest  of  a  bold,  daring  class.'* 
He  fought  manfully,  and,  after  his  pilot  had  been  killed,  and  his 
own  arm  broken,  he  worked  the  wheel  with  his  feet  and  steered 
his  boat. 

In  pursuance  of  orders,  the  infantry  went  on  board  trans 
ports  at  Brashear  City,  on  the  morning  of  January  13,  and 
steamed  up  the  bayou,  while  the  artillery  moved  along  the  shore 
road.  There  was  some  slight  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  that 
evening,  and  the  troops  landed  and  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle. 

The  plan  adopted  for  the  next  morning  was  for  the  fleet  to 
proceed  up  the  bayou  and  open  the  attack,  to  be  immediately 
followed  by  the  land  forces  as  a  support.  The  troops  were  to 
move  up  the  right  bank  ;  but  just  before  they  started  Gen. 
Weitzel  rode  in  front  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  and  read  to  them 
a  dispatch  he  had  received,  containing  resolutions  of  thanks  and 
commendation  for  the  service  they  had  rendered,  passed  by  the 
legislature  of  their  own  state.  The  message  was  greeted  with 
cheers ;  and  before  departing  the  general  remarked  that  he 
knew  of  no  more  opportune  time  to  present  those  encouraging 
words,  and  he  hoped  the  regiment  would  prove  themselves 
worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  them.  The  purport  of  this 
compliment  was  not  lost,  and  every  man  in  the  lines  knew 
that  it  meant  hot  work  ahead. 

Col.  Thomas  then  rode  up  and  clown  the  lines,  speaking 
words  of  encouragement.  Gen.  Weitzel  had  ordered  him  to 
detail  an  officer  and  sixty  men  as  sharpshooters,  to  advance 
and  pick  off  the  gunners  from  the  deck  of  the  Cotton.  At  once 
more  than  twice  the  required  number  of  volunteers  sprang 
forward  at  his  call,  from  which  a  selection  was  made,  and 
Capt.  Button,  of  Company  H,  volunteered  to  lead  them.  Pre 
liminaries  being  arranged,  Quartermaster  F.  E.  Smith,  then  of 
Gen.  Weitzel's  staff,  provided  a  transport  on  which  the  regiment 
embarked  and  moved  up  the  stream.  Soon  the  guns  of  the 
fleet  began  to  be  heard,  and  Col.  Thomas,  anxious  to  support 
the  attack,  became  impatient  of  the  slow  progress  of  the  boat, 


84  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

and  ordered  a  landing  to  be  made.  The  first  two  attempts  to 
bring  the  boat  to  the  bank  failed  on  account  of  the  shallow 
water,  and  much  precious  time  was  consumed  by  the  delay. 
But  the  third  succeeded,  and  when  the  last  man  had  passed 
the  gang-plank,  the  regiment  was  in  line  to  march.  Capt. 
Button  and  his  sixty  men,  however,  remained  on  board,  and 
were  landed  near  the  gun-boats,  about  two  miles  further  up 
the  bayou.  Col.  Thomas  then  marched  rapidly  by  the  flank 
along  the  old  road,  running  nearly  parallel  with  the  bayou, 
and  separated  from  it  by  cane-fields  and  a  thick  growth  of 
trees. 

At  this  time  the  situation  of  the  fleet  was  unknown  to  the 
regiment.  Col  Thomas  was  simply  making  a  rapid  advance  in 
obedience  to  orders  ;  but  whether  his  trusty  soldiers,  as  they 
hurried  forward  that  morning,  were  to  confront  only  a  naval 
force,  or  batteries  and  rifles,  was  an  unsolved  problem.  The 
brisk  fire  from  the  gun-boats  could  be  distinctly  heard  not  far 
away,  but  the  men,  as  they  pushed  on  in  a  double-quick  march, 
did  not  know  Commodore  Buchanan's  fleet  and  the  Cotton  were 
facing  each  other,  separated  only  by  impassable  obstructions 
placed  there  by  the  enemy,  that  the  shots  were  delivered  at 
short  range  with  telling  effect,  and  that  the  rebel  gun-boat  was 
supported  by  Semmes's  battery  on  the  one  side,  and  infantry 
on  the  other. 

Meanwhile  the  Union  fleet,  being  hard  pushed,  were  on  the 
lookout  for  the  approach  of  the  regiment  and  the  sixty  sharp 
shooters  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  boat  carrying  the  latter  came 
within  hailing  distance  of  the  rear  gun-boat  of  the  fleet,  the 
commander  asked  if  Capt.  Button  could  send  a  message  to  Col. 
Thomas.  Being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  said  in  an 
excited  manner  :  "  Run,  for  God's  sake,  and  tell  Thomas  if 
those  rifle-pits  are  not  cleared  in  five  minutes  the  Calhoun  is 
lost.  She  is  aground,  Buchanan  is  killed,  and  her  gunners  have 
been  driven  away  from  the  guns."  On  hearing  this  startling 
message,  Orderly  Sergeant  S.  E.  Howard,  by  whom  this  account 
is  furnished,  sprang  into  a  small  boat  and  was  instantly  set 
ashore,  when  he  ran  with  all  his  might  towards  the  advancing 


av    THE    RUN.  85 

regiment,  and  at  the  same  time  Capt.  Button  made  all  haste  to 
land  his  men. 

But  Col.  Thomas  was  apprised  of  the  peril  of  the  fleet  by  a 
speedier  messenger,  before  the  arrival  of  the  swift -footed  young 
orderly.  Capt.  Cook,  who  was  on  the  lookout  from  one  of  the 
vessels,  caught  the  attention  of  Thomas,  and  motioned  him  to 
come  down  to  the  boats.  Adj.  Barstow  was,  accordingly,  dis 
patched  thither.  He  learned  that  the  unsupported  Calhoun 
(Buchanan's  flag-ship)  was  at  the  front,  exposed  not  only  to  the 
guns  of  the  Cotton,  but  to  a  cross-fire  from  a  line  of  rifle-pits 
on  the  bank,  and  galloped  back  with  the  news.  Instantly  the 
regiment  was  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  men  started  on 
the  run.  As  they  passed  an  open  shed  in  the  edge  of  the  cane- 
fields  they  were  ordered  to  throw  off  all  their  heavy  equip 
ments  without  halting,  and  the  adjutant  was  ordered  a*gain  to 
ride  down  to  the  boats  and  get  what  information  he  could  about 
the  location  of  the  land  force  in  their  front. 

As  Barstow  galloped  back  he  saw  that  Company  A,  com 
manded  by  Lieut.  McFarland,  were  thrown  out  as  skirmishers, 
but  not  deployed,  and  that  the  troops  were  nearing  a  cluster  of 
buildings  comprising  a  large  sugar-house  and  brick-kiln,  which 
stood  on  rising  ground.  Knowing  that  the  rifle-pits  must  be 
just  on  the  other  side,  he  ordered  three  lads,  belonging  to  Com 
pany  A,  to  run  up  and  peer  round  the  corner  of  the  kiln,  and 
bring  him  word  how  the  enemy  was  located.  But  instead  of 
returning  the  boys  became  excited,  climbed  to  the  top  of  the 
kiln  and  began  to  fire  at  the  rebels,  who  were  so  intent  on 
destroying  the  gunners  on  the  Federal  gun-boats,  that  they 
knew  nothing  of  the  danger  which  threatened  to  annihilate 
them  from  the  rear.  At  that  moment  Button  and  his  sixty 
picked  men  came  rushing  up  between  the  regiment  and  the 
bayou,  their  guns  trailed  and  the  men  running  like  a  squadron 
of  charging  cavalry. 

The  moment  had  come  for  a  brilliant  dash  ;  with  the  brave 
McFarland  on  the  right  and  the  gallant  Button  on  the  left, 
the  entire  regiment  swooped  down  on  the  surprised  riflemen, 
and  literally  wiped  them  out  in  an  instant.  The  scared  Johnnies 


86  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

who  a  moment  before  were  hiding  so  securely  in  their  pits, 
while  they  dealt  a  murderous  fire  at  the  Union  gunners,  threw 
away  their  guns  and  fled  to  the  cane-fields  «in  utter  confusion. 
Seven  were  killed  outright,  twenty-seven  were  wounded,  and 
fifty-seven  made  prisoners,  while  the  Eighth  Vermont  lost  not 
a  single  man.  It  is  probable  that  the  entire  force  in  the  pits 
would  have  been  captured  had  they  not  received  warning  of  the 
charge  from  the  boys  who  fired  at  them  from  the  kiln.  As  it 
was,  more  than  two  hundred  stand  of  arms  were  taken,  and  the 
enemy  was  utterly  routed. 

This  brilliant  and  successful  onslaught  was  watched  with 
intense  delight  by  the  crews  on  the  gun-boats,  and  as  the  regi 
ment  swept  past,  they  gave  them  cheer  upon  cheer.  Gen. 
Weitzel,  too,  was  so  much  pleased  with  their  gallant  behavior, 
that  he  named  them  his  right  bower.  Nor  was  it  any  fault  of  the 
brave  Vermonters  that  they  were  not  there  in  time  to  protect 
the  Calhoun  and  save  the  life  of  her  much-loved  commander 
and  trusty  gunners.  "We  moved  so  fast,"  said  Col.  Thomas, 
referring  to  the  event,  "that  we  outstripped  Button's  boat, 
and  the  rest  of  the  brigade  dubbed  us  the  Vermont  Cavalry." 

The  impetus  of  the  charge  carried  the  lines  somewhat 
beyond  the  rifle-pits,  where  a  momentary  halt  was  made,  while 
the  prisoners  were  placed  under  guard,  and  Col.  Thomas 
ordered  some  negroes  who  were  at  hand  to  bury  the  Confeder 
ate  dead.  At  this  time,  too,  a  member  of  Company  C,  who 
was  so  short  of  stature  that  he  went  by  the  name  of  "  Little  " 
Danforth,  brought  to  the  colonel  a  very  tall  prisoner  and  asked 
what  he  should  do  with  him. 

"Take  him  to  the  rear,"  was  the  answer. 

"But  he  says  he  is  all  tired  out  and  can't  travel,"  persisted 
"  Little  "  Danforth. 

They  looked,  and  the  "  reb "  had  flung  himself  on  the 
ground,  feigning  to  be  perfectly  exhausted. 

"Put  a  bayonet  through  him,  then,"  said  Thomas,  sternly. 

On  hearing  this  order,  the  prisoner  sprang  nimbly  up  and 
trudged  on  ;  but  the  sequel  afforded  Col.  Thomas  a  deal  of 
amusement,  and  showed  the  trusting  simplicity  of  the  tender- 


THEY   DISCOVER    A    FORT.  87 

hearted  youth  who  made  the  capture.  That  night  "  Little " 
Danforth  went  to  the  headquarters  of  the  fatherly  old  com 
mander,  and  asked  in  a  tone  of  deep  solicitude  :  "  Col.  Thomas, 
did  you  really  mean  to  have  me  put  a  bayonet  through  that 
prisoner? " 

Soon  the  order  to  advance  was  given,  and  the  main  body 
of  the  regiment  moved  along  the  open  fields,  while  Button's 
men  kept  close  to  the  bayou,  and  Company  A  gradually  bore  a 
little  to  the  right.  After  marching  something  more  than  a 
mile  they  came  to  a  line  of  earthworks,  around  and  behind 
which  the  bayou  made  a  sharp  bend.  Lieut.  McFarland  was 
detailed  to  inspect  them,  and  found  them  deserted  ;  and  in  the 
near  vicinity  was  a  bridg'e  across  which  the  fugitive  riflemen 
might  have  made  their  escape.  In  a  few  moments  an  enfilad 
ing  shot  came  from  the  left  and  fell  between  two  men,  and  was 
shortly  followed  by  several  more.  The  source  of  these  missiles 
proved  to  be  a  Confederate  redoubt  or  fort  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  bayou,  partially  hidden  from  view  by  the  trees  that 
fringed  the  bank. 

Warned  by  these  signals  of  danger,  Col.  Thomas  retired  his 
men  beyond  range  of  the  enemy's  guns,  at  the  same  time  send 
ing  Adj.  Barstow  to  recall  Capt.  Button,  and  Capt.  Grout  to 
bear  a  like  message  to  Lieut.  McFarland.  But  before  they 
retreated,  Barstow  and  Button  penetrated  to  the  bank  of  the 
bayou,  to  ascertain  if  they  could  whether  Gen.  Weitzel  with  his 
brigade  had  also  advanced  as  far  on  the  opposite  side.  They 
neither  saw  nor  heard  anything  of  his  forces,  and  there  were 
no  signs  of  troops,  except  a  mounted  officer  and  an  orderly, 
who  were  silently  gazing  at  them  across  the  stream.  At  first 
it  was  impossible  to  tell  whether  they  were  friends  or  foes  ;  but 
soon  the  officer  turned  his  horse  so  as  to  place  the  sheltering 
trunk  of  a  large  cypress  tree  between  himself  and  the  two  who 
watched  him  ;  then  Barstow  said,  "  He  is  a  rebel." 

The  withdrawal  of  the  advance  lines  seemed  to  have  been 
taken  by  the  enemy  as  a  signal  that  the  regiment  could  not  be 
decoyed  any  nearer,  and  immediately  they  opened  their  mounted 
guns  upon  them.  But  the  troops  steadily  retired  out  of  range 


88  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

of  the  shot  and  shell,  and  found  near  them  a  large  sugar- 
house  and  other  buildings,  which  would  afford  them  some  pro 
tection.  Meanwhile  Col.  Thomas  learned  that  Gen.  Weitzel's 
force  was  a  mile  below  his  own  on  the  other  side,  and  also 
received  orders  to  hold  his  position  until  morning.  It  was  a 
post  of  extreme  danger.  Just  on  the  other  side  of  the  bayou 
was  a  hostile  force,  whose  size  they  could  not  estimate,  though 
beyond  a  doubt  it  was  many  times  their  own  ;  and  across  a 
bridge  covered  by  the  enemy's  guns,  this  force  could  be  thrown 
upon  them  at  any  moment.  The  brigade  was  bivouacked  at 
least  a  mile  below,  and  could  not  cross  the  bayou  without  boats, 
while  the  fleet  was  still  farther  away.  In  a  word,  no  help 
could  come  to  them  in  case  of  an  attack,  and  it  looked  very 
much  as  though  they  were  left  alone,  at  the  mercy  of  a  foe 
who  would  delight  to  cut  to  pieces  and  destroy  them.  Indeed, 
Gen.  Weitzel  was  well  aware  of  their  dangerous  situation,  and 
had  been  solicitous  all  day  for  the  safety  of  his  "  right  bower." 
In  this  perilous  situation  night  and  a  rough  "  norther  "  overtook 
the  lone  regiment,  clouds  enveloped  them  in  inky  darkness, 
while  a  cold,  drizzling  rain  chilled  the  weary  men  to  the  bone. 

But  Col.  Thomas  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  knew  that, 
under  cover  of  night,  the  next  best  thing  to  being  strongly 
reinforced  would  be  to  make  the  enemy  believe  such  was 
the  case.  So  he  planned  an  adroit  and,  as  the  result  proved, 
very  successful  strategy.  He  caused  a  line  of  fires  nearly  two 
miles  in  extent  to  be  built  from  the  bayou  on  one  side  to  the 
swamp  on  the  other ;  and  by  keeping  these  ablaze  through  the 
night  deceived  the  rebels  into  thinking  that  either  he  was  in 
command  of  a  formidable  army,  or  that  his  numerical  strength 
had  been  greatly  augmented  during  the  evening. 

This  imagined  army,  like  the  hosts  which  the  wizard  Merlin 
summoned  out  of  the  impalpable  air  to  confront  his  foes, 
appalled  the  Confederates  quite  effectually ;  and  presently  the 
fact  that  the  deception  was  complete  was  announced  by  a  herald 
of  flame.  About  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  dreaded 
Cotton  came  slowly  down  the  Teche,  wrapped  in  a  brilliant 
sheet  of  fire,  burned  to  the  water's  edge,  and  sank  just  below 


*s   i-  fcsg 

*=  &=<•  :•: 

^CZ3          ^C=3«< 

jcr=,  ^^:*: 

\S  -*,  Q    o 

«^ 


»ee 


:v*»    'OBSTRUCTION 

IB6 

••^    a 

i    1     1  BUILDINGS 

y\  a 


•%p»»*« 

|:      BATTLE 

.%?  OF     THE 

••fe    COTTON, 


RETURN    OF    THE    REGIMENT.  89 

the  rebel  fort.  Fearing  that  their  strong  gun-boat  would  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  ghostly  army  created  by  the  magic  of 
burning  bushes,  the  enemy  had  abandoned  and  set  her  on  fire. 
Thus  by  most  unexpected  means  was  the  grand  end  of  the 
expedition  accomplished,  and  the  brigade  was  ready  to  return 
to  camp  next  morning. 

At  that  time,  of  course,  the  apparent  result  of  the  strategy 
devised  by  Col.  Thomas  was  assumed  to  be  the  true  one  ;  and 
it  is  gratifying,  now  that  years  have  elapsed,  to  have  the 
assumption  confirmed  by  testimony  from  the  enemy's  side. 
During  the  years  1878  and  1879,  Sergt.  Brown,  of  Company  H, 
worked  with  an  ex-soldier  who  was  in  the  Confederate  ranks, 
and  a  member  of  a  Louisiana  regiment  which  participated  in 
the  engagement  of  the  Cotton.  After  the  twain  had  become 
well  acquainted,  they  often  talked  over  their  army  experiences 
together  ;  and  one  day  the  ex-Confederate  asked  Brown  how 
large  a  reinforcement  the  Eighth  Vermont  received  the  night 
after  the  charge  on  the  rifle-pits.  He  could  hardly  credit  the 
statement,  when  Brown  told  him  they  were  not  reinforced  at 
all,  and  assured  him  that  the  rebel  officers  in  command  on  the 
other  side  of  the  bayou  were  so  certain  of  it,  that  they  burned 
the  Cotton  to  prevent  it  from  being  captured.  Their  own  force, 
he  said,  included  three  regiments  of  infantry,  two  squadrons  of 
cavalry,  and  two  batteries  ;  and  their  plan  was  to  attack  Col. 
Thomas  that  night,  if  he  had  not,  as  they  supposed,  received 
aid. 

Early  the  next  morning  orders  came  from  Gen.  Weitzel  for 
the  regiment  to  fall  back  to  the  first  transport,  and  embark  for 
Brashear  City.  He  complimented  them  for  their  bravery,  and 
said  that,  since  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  done  all  the  fighting, 
they  should  not  walk  back.  But  before  this  welcome  message 
was  received,  officers  on  the  lookout  from  the  top  of  the  sugar- 
house  saw  long  lines  of  rebel  cavalry  advancing  toward  them 
over  the  ground  traversed  by  McFarland's  skirmishers  the  day 
before.  Consequently  a  strong  rear  guard  was  maintained 
while  the  regiment  retired,  setting  fire  to  store-houses  filled 
with  corn  and  forage  supplies  as  they  went. 


90  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

The  brigade  moving  on  the  other  side  was  already  far  down 
the  bayou,  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy  ;  and  the  gun-boat 
with  the  gallant  Eighth  on  board  would  havei>een  attacked  by 
riflemen,  had  she  not  backed  down,  keeping  up  at  the  same 
time  a  continuous  raking  fire  on  either  side,  which  kept  the 
foe  at  a  respectful  distance. 

Accounts  of  the  dash  and  heroism  of  the  Eighth  Vermont 
soon  found  their  way  into  the  newspapers  all  through  the  loyal 
states,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  enviable  fame  which  the 
regiment  subsequently  achieved,  and  nobly  sustained  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Vermont  was  proud  of  her  gallant  sons,  and 
their  reputation  for  prowess  was  firmly  established.  The  story 
of  that  day's  service  was  published  also  in  more  permanent 
records,  and  historians  of  the  war  paused  in  their  stories  to 
pay  the  regiment  a  well-deserved  tribute.  Horace  Greeley,  in 
his  voluminous  work,  says,  after  describing  the  preliminary 
movements  : 

"  By  this  time  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  gained  the  enemy's 
rear,  and  was  making  a  rapid  clearance  of  the  rifle-pits,  while 
the  batteries  of  the  First  Maine,  and  the  Fourth  and  Sixth 
Massachusetts,  supported  by  sharpshooters  from  the  Seventy- 
fifth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  had  flanked  the 
defences  on  the  other  side,  and  were  sweeping  the  decks  of  the 
Cotton,  whose  crew  beat  a  retreat,  as  did  most  of  the  rebels  on 
land." 

Comte  de  Paris,  the  French  writer  on  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  says  in  his  history : 

"  The  Eighth  Vermont,'  being  first  to  land,  was  to  advance 
and  attack  the  principal  works  of  the  Confederates  in  the  rear. 
....  Buchanan,  on  boardt  he  Calhoun,  didnot  permit  himself 
to  be  intimidated,  and,  immovable  on  the  bridge  of  his  vessel, 
steered  it  directly  against  the  enemy's  works.  A  shower  of 
balls  fell  around  him  and  he  was  soon  mortally  wounded.  But 
his  daring  had  not  been  without  effect :  whilst  he  was  thus  oc 
cupying  the  enemy,  the  Eighth  Vermont  reached  the  gorge  of 
the  work,  and  captured  the  breastworks  by  which  it  was  de 
fended.  The  garrison,  entirely  occupied  by  the  novel  combat, 


CAMP    STEVENS.  91 

did  not  even  make  an  effort  to  resist  this  new  attack,  but  dis 
persed  at  once."  This  statement,  though  incorrect  in  some 
particulars,  pays  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  daring  of  the  men  who 
saved  the  day  and  "  did  all  the  fighting." 

Where  so  much  was  due  to  individual  courage  and  prudence, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  decide  who  of  Col.  Thomas's  officers  and 
men  were  most  deserving  of  credit.  Each  in  his  sphere,  from 
commander  to  the  last  private  in  the  ranks,  seemed  bent  on 
doing  his  duty,  and  accomplishing  the  work  to  which  the  regi 
ment  had  been  assigned.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  spirited 
dash  of  Capt.  Button  and  his  picked  sixty,  or  Lieut.  McFarland 
and  his  thirty-five ;  but  equally  brave  was  Sergeant  Howard, 
when  he  leaped  ashore  from  the  boat  of  the  Diana,  and,  running 
through  a  storm  of  bullets,  carried  the  message  to  his  colonel. 
Capt.  Grout  and  Lieut.  Spalding  were  also  very  efficient,  and 
Capt  Lynde,  of  Company  I,  who  was  acting  quartermaster,  was 
at  the  front  doing  duty  through  the  entire  day.  Adj.  Barstow 
was  in  this,  as  in  every  engagement  where  he  served,  simply 
Col.  Thomas  multiplied,  and  his  care  for  the  men  will  be  grate 
fully  remembered  by  every  survivor  of  the  regiment.  Orderly 
Sergt.  S.  E.  Howard,  of  Company  H,  who  carried  the  message 
from  the  gun-boats  to  Col.  Thomas,  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  his  commission  dating  January  I3th,  1863,  the  same 
day  the  expedition  started  up  the  bayou. 

The  regiment  returned  to  Camp  Stevens  without  the  loss  of 
a  man,  and  enjoyed  a  quiet  rest  of  several  weeks,  during  which 
time  George  O.  Ford,  of  Company  K,  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  his  commission  being  issued  Feb.  iQth.  On  the 
2/th  the  camp  was  menaced  by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy, 
and  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Bayou  Boeuf.  The  gun-boat 
Diana  was  captured  by  the  Confederates  on  the  7th  of  March, 
and  Adj.  J.  L.  Barstow  was  commissioned  captain  of  Company 
K  on  the  2ist.  On  the  2d  of  April  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  join  the  brigade  at  Brashear  City,  prior  to  another  expedi 
tion  up  the  Teche  under  Maj.  Gen.  Banks.  On  the  same  day 
John  M.  Pike,  of  Company  G,  was  commissioned  second  lieuten 
ant,  and  Second  Lieut.  John  B.  Mead  was  promoted  to  first 


92  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

lieutenant ;  on  the  fifth  of  the  following  month  these  two  offi 
cers  were  again  promoted,  Mead  becoming  captain,  and  Pike 
first  lieutenant.  At  this  time,  also,  Weitzel'*  reserve  brigade 
was  reorganized,  and  composed  of  the  Eighth  Vermont, 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  Seventy-fifth,  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth,  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York.  From 
that  time  the  Eighth  Vermont,  Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  One 
Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York  were  destined  to  serve 
together  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Early  the  following  April  a  half-famished  colored  man 
appeared  in  camp,  and  gave  the  boys  what  some  one  very 
properly  styled  a  Sunday  evening  entertainment.  An  officer 
of  the  regiment  gave  a  long  description  of  it  in  a  letter  written 
to  a  friend,  and  it  presents  so  good  a  picture  of  the  typical 
contraband  on  first  coming  within  the  Union  lines,  that  a 
liberal  abstract  of  the  epistle  is  herein  transcribed  : 

"  An  old  negro,  dressed  in  dirty-white,  coarse  flannel,  very 
much  patched,  a  coon-skin  hat  which  I  should  think  would 
have  roasted  his  black  head,  and  boots  run  down  at  the  heels 
and  out  at  the  toes,  came  into  camp  about  nine  o'clock, 
[Sunday  night]  and  said  that  he  started  at  dark  on  Friday  from 
Martinsville  on  the  Teche,  in  a  little  row-boat,  taking  with  him 
a  shot-bag  full  of  half  dollars  rolled  up  in  his  blanket.  This 
money  constituted  his  entire  worldly  fortune,  which  he  had 
been  thirty  years  in  accumulating. 

"The  negro  reports  that  Capt.  Fuller,  who  was  wounded  on 
the  Cotton,  was  at  his  '  massa's '  house,  and  told  him  he  should 
attack  Gen.  Weitzel  on  Sunday  or  Monday  night,  by  water  and 
by  land.  The  old  slave  was  so  afraid  that  '  de  Yankees'  would 
be  taken  by  surprise,  and  beaten,  that  he  set  out  to  give 
'  Massa  Gen'l  Wyzle  '  warning.  He  pulled  his  boat  all  night, 
and  at  eight  o'clock  Saturday  morning  was  in  Grand  Lake, 
when  he  espied  Capt.  Fuller  with  two  gun-boats  and  about 
twenty-five  flat-boats,  apparently  making  ready  to  transport 
troops  across  the  lake. 

"  Hastily  sliding  his  boat  into  the  weeds  where  it  would  not 


DICK'S    STORY.  93 

be  discovered,  he  lay  down  in  the  bottom  to  watch  opera 
tions.  Directly  the  marines  began  firing,  evidently  for  prac 
tice  ;  and  the  old  man  thus  described  the  manoeuvres  :  '  One 
ob  de  boats  wiv  wheels  on  de  side  turned  roun'  middlin'  quick, 
and  fired  right  smart.  Yes,  sah !  I  could  see  de  hot  inn 
dey  techt  off  de  big  guns  wiv.  But  dat  odder  ole  black  boat, 
wiv  de  wheel  behine,  she  aint  much  'count  nohow.  No,  indeed, 
massa,  she  aint  much  'count,  kaze  it  tuck  so  long  to  turn  'er 
roun.'  She  fired  off  one  side,  and  den  let  on  de  steam  to  turn 
roun',  and  she  went  so  slow  —  chou  !  —  chou  !  —  chou  !  —  'way 
roun'  de  lake.  Oh,  golly  !  dis  ole  nigger  did  larf  den,  and  said 
to  hisself,  "Diclc,  guess  you  git  'way  now.  When  clem  Nor- 
vuners  see  dat  boat,  dey  will  jes  '  shoot  'er  all  tah  pieces,  afo' 
she  c'n  turn  roun'  to  shoot  off  de  odder  side  wonst." 

"  '  Yes,  indeed,  Dick  seed  'er  sure  nuff,  and  looked  at  her 
clus,  and  cud  heah  ole  Cap'n  Fuller  cussin'  'n  swearin  ;  oh, 
good  Massa  above !  how  he  did  cus  dem  men  kaze  dey  cudn' 
turn  roun'  quicker.  But  he  said  he  was  gwin  tah  play  you  all 
some  trick.  He  'lowed  ez  how  he  wud  "drive  every  d — d 
Yankee  'way  from  heah  ;"  and  he's  got  a  big  parcle  of  men,  and 
dey  is  pow'f  '1  ugly.  Yes,  massa,  I'm  tellin'  de  trufe.  And  so 
I  laid  dere  till  nigh  'bout  seben  o'clock  Saturd'y  ebenin',  afo' 
I  cud  git  'way,  and  den  I  pulled  all  night  agin,  and  did  n't  hab 
nuffin  t'  eat  But  I  kep  sayin  '  :  "  Go  ahead,  ole  Dick ;  tell 
'em  what  ole  Fuller  is  gwin  t'  do  ;  and  if  ye  die  from  bein' 
hungry,  no  mattah,  kaze  you  '11  be  doin'  some  good,  and  den 
you  '11  git  to  heben."  So  I  pulled  on.  But  de  lake  wuz  so  big, 
and  I  wuz  so  fur  from  shore,  dat  I  cudn'  see  ez  I  wuz  gittin' 
ahead  any.  But  sometimes  I  passed  by  a  stick  in  de  watah, 
and  I  went  by  so  quick,  I  knovvd  I  wuz  gwine  good. 

"  '  When  it  kum  mornin'  I  kep  pullin',  and  when  de  sun  wuz 
'bout  free  hours  up  ole  Dick  begun  ter  git  faint  ;  and  he  got 
skeered  dat  he  cud  n't  hold  out  t'  git  t'  whar  ye  all  wuz  ;  an'  he 
pulled  to  de  bank,  and  asked  a  man  fur  suffin  ter  eat.  Now 
he  wuz  very  cross,  and  wanted  t'  know  whar  I  wuz  gwin  to,  an' 
I  tho't  I  minte  ez  well  tell  him  all  'bout  it,  and  den  he  wuz 
right  glad,  and  guv  me  a  letter  to  bring  to  ye  all,  and  tole  me 


94  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

ter  hurry,  fur  God's  sake,  or  I  minte  be  too  late  ;  an'  he  sed  I 
must  n't  stop  t'  eat,  coz  it  would  take  up  de  time,  an'  I  musn't 
tell  nobody  on  his  place,  coz  dey  wuz  all  rebels  ;  and  de  ladiz, 
dey  talked  hard  to  me,  and  sed  dey  know'd  I  wuz  runnin'  'way 
to  tell  sum  news,  and  sed  I  otter  to  be  hung,  and  dey  would  set 
de  bloodhounds  on  me. 

" '  But  I  didn't  sed  nuffin,  but  got  into  my  boat  and  looked 
into  my  blanket,  V  my  shot-bag  and  money  wuz  all  gone. 
And  I  seed  one  ob  de  ladiz  hold  it  up  an'  larf  at  me.  I  know'd 
it  wudn't  be  no  use  t'  go  back,  kaze  dey  would  n't  guv  it  ter  me 
if  I  did,  an'  I  did  n't  car'  ef  I  cud  only  git  ter  you  all  in  time.' 

"  After  another  long  pull,  about  two  hours  before  sunset, 
exhausted  and  too  stiff  to  stand,  Dick  came  to  a  '  shell 
bank,  and  seed  free  men  wid  guns,'  who  helped  him  out  of  his 
boat.  After  rubbing  and  stretching  his  cramped  legs  awhile, 
he  says:  '  I  started  wid  dem  to  go  'n'  see  Cap'n  Wyzle.  So  dey 
tuck  me  to  whar  all  de  little  white  houses  wuz,  made  of 
cloff.  Oh,  my  golly  !  dis  nigger  never  seed  so  many  houses  ; 
and  den  dey  tole  him  dey  wuz  all  full  of  sol'ers,  reel  Yankee 
sol'ers.  Waal  now,  good  Fader  abuv  !  ef  dat  ar  don'  beat  all  f 
Whew  !  Ef  doze  rebels  cud  see  dem  tents  an'  one  sol'er  in 
ebery  one,  let  'lone  all  de  res',  dey  would  be  so  skeered  —  oh, 
good  gracious  !  how  dey  would  run  !  —  dey  would  frow  'way  all 
dere  guns  and  run  so  fur  dey  nebber  wud  stop  yit. 

"  '  Waal,  den  dey  tuck  me  by  a  hul  lot  ob  mo'  tents,  and  dere 
wuz  mo'  sol'ers  too,  yes.  I  seed  'em  all,  me,  I  did.  Good 
Loddy  !  what  a  swarm  ob  sol'ers.  I  went  mo  'n  free  miles 
'mung  de  tents,  an  all  full  ob  sol'ers.  Waal  I  declar  !  My 
golly  !  massa,  ef  de  cullud  fokes  cud  only  see  all  deze  sol'ers, 
dey  wouldn't  stay  ter  home  one  mo'  night.  Dey  wud  run  'way 
right  off.  Oh,  how  wicked  my  ole  massa  is  !  He  tole  me  you 
all  had  n't  got  but  few.ob  men,  an'  dey  shud  whip  ye  all,  'n' 
kech  us  agin,  ef  we  went  'way,  an'  den  we  shud  be  killed. 
An  now,  what  a  lot  ob  men  !  Whew !  whew  !  I  nebber  seed 
de  like  of  all  dem  peoplez. 

"  '  Den  dey  tole  me  dat  wuz  Bayou  Bceuf,  an'  Cap'n  Wyzle 
wuz  at  de  bay.  An'  den  de  cap'n  at  the  Bceuf  tole  me  to  git  on 


DICK'S    STOKV.  95 

some  kine  ob  a  machine,  an'  it  started  ;  an'  oh,  my  good  Fader 
abuv !  how  dat  machine  did  go !  dat  race  hoss  beat  all  de  race 
hosses  dat  I  eber  seed  ;  an'  I  sat  hol'in'  on  an'  lookin'  at  de 
poles  ez  dey  went  by,  and  whiz !  dey  went,  an'  den  I  cud  n'  see 
dem.  Den  I  looked  at  de  houses  an'  de  woods,  an'  'pears  like 
all  ob  dem  wuz  movin'  too.  Den  I  looked  at  de  wheels  a  goin' 
roun'  twice  ez  fast  ez  lightnin',  an'  I  tell  ye,  dis  nigger  tho't  de 
king'um  ob  heben  was  nigh  'bout  to  han';  and  den  dey  guv 
sech  a  hollerin'  'n'  screamin',  I  tho't  Gabr'l  had  dun  blow  his 
horn,  sure  'miff.  An'  I  kep'  lookin'  at  de  wheels,  an'  I  sed, 
"Now,  Dick,  jes'  you  keep  clus'  watch  ob  de  wheel,  an'  ef  it 
cums  off,  do  you  jump  like  a  cat,  or  you  'er  a  gone  nigger." 
Yes,  indeed,  massa,  I  watch  dem  clus,  kaze  I  wuz  nebber  on 
sech  a  race  hoss  as  dat  afo'  in  all  my  life,  me ;  an'  in  less  'n  five 
minits  heah  she  stopped,  an'  dey  tole  me  ter  jump  down  'n'  see 
de  cap'n.  An'  now  is  you  de  reel  Cap'n  Wyzle  ? ' 

"  'No,  Dick,'  we  said,  '  he  is  Gen.  Weitzel.' 

" '  Waal,  now,  I  declar'! '  continued  the  astonished  black 
man,  'ez  shure  ez  you're  born,  an'  I'm  tellin'  de  trufe  an'  no  lie, 
I'm  glad  !  I  tank  de  Lor'  dat  he  let  his  'umble  sarvant  do  sum 
good,  'n'  git  heah  'fo'  he  fainted  clear  off ;  and  bress  de  good 
Fader  abuv  dat  he  s'stain  his  poor  nigger  in  dat  tryin'  hour, 
an'  d'liber  him  out  ob  de  han'  ob  de  debble,  an'  let  him  cum 
'mung  de  good  peoplez. 

"'Oh,  gemmuns,  I  c'n  tell  ye  now,  all  de  cullud  men,  ebb'ry 
one,  wants  ye  to  hurry  up,  an'  go  frew  de  hul  country.  Dey 
is  waitin'  fur  ye,  an'  in  ebb'ry  plantation  sum  ob  de  niggers  is 
alwuz  settin'  up  o'  nights  t'  heah  yer  fust  gun,  'n'  be  ready  ter 
run  ter  meet  ye,  an'  tew  tell  ye  whar  all  de  tings  is  at,  an'  tew 
bring  ye  all  de  tings  we  haz  raised  on  our  own  little  garding 
patches.' 

"  The  half-starved  fugitive  had  been  supplied  with  soft  bread 
and  coffee,  and  eagerly  munched  away  on  it  while  giving  vent 
to  his  astonishment.  Presently  he  began  to  notice  what  kind 
of  food  he  was  eating,  and  broke  forth,  in  his  comical  style  : 
'Why,  massa,  ole  Dick  haint  tasted  ob  de  likes  ob  dat  fur  gwin 
on  two  yeahs  now.  No,  indeed  !  All  de  flour  our  ole  massa 


96  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

hez  had  since  de  wah  begun  wuz  harf  a  bar'l,  a  yeah  'go  las' 
Chris'mus.  Dey  brings  flour  and-  t'barcy  from  Texas,  V 
coffee  ;  but  it  tucks  free  hogsits  ob  sugar  te*v  buy  one  bar'l  ob 
flour.'  " 


IV. 


BISLAND. 

THE  stubborn  resistance  during  the  battle  of  the  Cotton 
showed  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  that  a  large  and  power 
ful  force  guarded  the  entrance  of  the  Teche  country.  It  was 
well  fortified  at  Bisland  or  Bethel  Place,  as  it  was  often  called, 
where,  beyond  a  doubt,  Gen.  Taylor  was  prepared  to  make  a 
resolute  defence  of  his  works.  On  this  point,  therefore,  Gen. 
Banks  decided  to  concentrate  his  attack.  He  arrived  on  the 
iith  of  April,  to  command  the  expedition  in  person,  bringing 
with  him  reinforcements  from  New  Orleans. 

Meanwhile  Weitzel's  brigade  had  crossed  the  bay,  and,  as 
soon  as  plans  were  matured  and  orders  received,  moved  in  the 
direction  of  Pattersonville,  the  Eighth  Vermont,  as  usual,  taking 
the  advance.  Gen.  Grover's  division  had  also  been  sent  by  way 
of  Grand  Lake,  to  gain  a  position  above  Bisland,  and  thus  cut 
off  the  enemy's  retreat ;  and  when  the  attack  was  begun,  the 
gun-boats  were  to  co-operate  on  the  water  side. 

The  advance  was  begun  at  noon,  and  Capt.  Button  with 
Company  H,  being  deployed  as  skirmishers,  soon  found  the 
enemy's  pickets  and  drove  them  in.  Occasionally  a  cannon 
shot  would  strike  the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  moving 
lines,  and  Capt.  Bainbridge  would  return  the  salute  with  one  of 
his  battery  guns.  But  the  enemy  did  not  appear  in  force,  and 
at  night  the  troops  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle,  a  short  distance 
above  Pattersonville. 


98  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

There  was  no  disturbance  during  the  night,  and  on  the 
following  Sunday  morning  the  march  was  resumed.  The  lines 
moved  cautiously,  and  Company  K,  under  Cfipt.  Barstow,  being 
deployed  as  skirmishers,  had  some  sharp  encounters  with  the 
enemy.  Until  mid-afternoon  nothing  occurred  to  interrupt  the 
measured  tramp  of  men  and  horses,  and  save  the  rattle  of  equip 
ments  and  the  low  word  of  command,  there  was  nothing  to 
break  the  silence  of  the  march.  It  was  a  lovely  Sunday,  and 
the  eye  of  the  imaginative  soldier  was  free  to  wander  over  the 
slowly  changing  landscape  and  take  in  all  its  varied  beauty. 
The  way  was  flanked  on  either  hand  by  forests  of  heavy  timber, 
whose  lively  foliage  made  a  striking  contrast  with  the  masses  of 
gray  moss  that  hung  like  ghostly  raiment  from  the  branches. 
Rich  plantations  with  large  hospitable  looking  mansions  divided 
the  open  country,  reminding  one  of  the  homes  where  for  gener 
ations  the  proud  old  southern  families  had  dwelt  in  luxuriant 
ease.  Passing  close  to  one  of  these  houses  about  noon,  the 
soldiers  discovered  that  it  had  just  been  deserted  by  the 
inmates,  who  in  their  hasty  flight  had  left  a  nice  hot  dinner 
smoking  on  the  board.  The  path  of  a  cannon-shot  was  traced 
directly  across  the  room  where  the  family  had  probably  assem 
bled  to  dine,  which  offered  a  plausible  reason  for  their  absence. 
So  the  boys,  thinking  it  a  pity  to  let  a  good  dinner  spoil,  fell 
ou£  and  took  it  in. 

At  three  o'clock  the  lines  moved  still  more  carefully,  for  they 
were  nearing  the  Confederate  works,  and  the  batteries  close  at 
hand  stopped  to  shell  every  suspicious  point.  For  a  few  mo 
ments  a  hush  seemed  to  fall  upon  the  air,  and  it  filled  every  heart 
with  apprehension,  for  the  men  understood  what  it  meant. 
Then  came  a  sudden  belching  of  smoke  at  the  not  far  distant 
front,  a  vivid  flash  was^seen,  a  solid  shot  struck  the  ground  a  few 
yards  ahead  of  the  regiment,  and  with  a  horrible  shriek  passed 
overhead.  This  was  only  a  signal,  but  the  next  moment  the 
entire  batteries  of  the  enemy  opened  with  a  murderous  fire,  in 
order  to  throw  the  advancing  column  into  confusion. 

It  was  a  trying  ordeal  for  the  Green  Mountain  boys.  The 
air  was  full  of  deadly  missiles  of  every  description, —  shells,  solid 


STANDING    UNDER    FIRE.  99 

shot,  grape,  and  even  pieces  of  railroad  iron  ;  and  the  earth  was 
plowed  in  every  direction  as  the  huge  projectiles  buried  them 
selves  in  the  ground,  throwing  the  dust  and  dirt  over  the  men. 
Col.  Thomas  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  Coolly  he  rode  in 
front  of  the  line,  imparting  courage  to  the  timid  and  inspiration 
to  all,  and  cried  out :  "  Steady,  men  !  Stand  firm  !  Remember 
old  Vermont  is  looking  at  you  to-day  !  We  Ve  been  in  the  field 
a  long  while,  boys,  and  this  is  the  first  time  we  have  had  a 
chance  to  begin  the  work  we  were  sent  out  here  to  do  !  Steady, 
old  Vermont !  "  A  few  moments  later,  seeing  some  of  the  men 
quailing  before  the  iron  hail,  he  called  out:  "Vermont  is  looking 
at  you  !  "  when  a  witty  fellow  replied  :  "Hope  Vermont  won't 
see  us  in  such  a  scrape  again."  This  raised  a  laugh  along  the 
line,  and  helped,  more  than  the  sternest  command  would  have 
done,  to  keep  the  boys  in  countenance.  At  another  point 
where  some  white  faces  showed  the  need  of  a  little  more  grit,, 
the  colonel  passed,  just  as  a  shot  plowed  into  the  earth  and 
then  went  howling  over  their  heads.  "  This  reminds  me  of 
sowing  marrowfat  peas  up  in  old  Vermont,"  said  he.  His  humor 
was  magnetic,  and  the  responsive  shout  seemed  to  cheer  the 
boys  wonderfully. 

After  the  gallant  Eighth  had  been  under  fire  for  a  short  time, 
Capt.  Bainbridge  came  galloping  up  on  their  right  with  his 
battery,  he  riding  alongside  the  foremost  gun,  dressed  in  spick 
and  span  uniform,  and  lashing  the  horses  with  his  rawhide,  as 
though  life  depended  on  every  leap  they  made.  The  gun 
wheeled  into  position,  plowing  up  the  earth  in  its  rapid  circuit, 
and  in  a  moment  the  keen-eyed  captain  was  out  of  his  saddle, 
sighting  the  piece  for  the  first  discharge.  Quickly  each  gun 
took  position  and  opened  fire  upon  the  rebel  works,  which  could 
then  be  seen  in  the  distance,  and  the  Eighth  Regiment  was 
ordered  to  advance  to  the  front  as  a  support  to  Bainbridge. 

Compliance  with  this  order  subjected  the  regiment  to  what 
is  doubtless  one  of  the  severest  tests  to  which  troops  are  ever 
brought  in  time  of  battle.  It  requires  nerve  at  any  time  to 
charge  under  fire  and  do  valiant  execution,  but  action  inspires 
the  moving  lines  with  courage.  It  is  quite  another  thing  to 


IOO  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

face,  unprotected,  the  murderous  hail,  and  there  stand  hour 
after  hour,  and  silently  wait ;  for  there  is  nothing  to  blind  the 
eyes  to  danger  or  sustain  the  sinking  spirit.  •To  such  a  terrible 
test  the  brave  sons  of  Ethan  Allen  proved  equal,  and,  led  into 
position  by  a  commander  in  whom  they  trusted,  they  stood  like 
a  rock  till  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  battle.  Nor  was  their 
confidence  misplaced.  Col.  Thomas,  whose  courage  knew  no 
law  but  obedience  to  orders,  was  a  father  to  all  the  men  whose 
lives  he  might  almost  be  said  to  hold  in  his  hand.  He  felt  the 
danger,  not  for  himself,  but  for  them,  and  to  cheer  and  support 
them  through  those  trying  hours,  kept  at  the  front  alone, 
mounted  on  his  horse,  a  conspicuous  mark  for  artillerists,  and 
encouraged  them  by  his  own  unflinching  bravery. 

Twice  during  the  heavy  cannonading  Gen.  Weitzel  sent  Lieut. 
Smith  of  his  staff  to  warn  the  colonel  that  he  was  exposing  him 
self  unduly,  and  begging  him  to  dismount  out  of  regard  for  his 
own  personal  safety.  The  reply  of  the  great-hearted  officer  was  : 
"  Col.  Thomas  sends  his  compliments  to  Gen.  Weitzel,  and  begs 
to  inform  him  that  he  didn't  come  down  here  to  get  off  his 
horse  for  any  d  — d  rebel.  "  Could  any  member  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont  misunderstand  the  meaning  of  their  leader,  or  fail  to 
be  brave  under  the  eye  of  such  an  officer  ?  Presently,  while 
scanning  the  ground  in  front,  the  colonel  saw  a  ditch,  into  which 
he  ordered  the  regiment  to  advance,  and  thus  gain  a  partial  pro 
tection  from  the  deadly  shots. 

The  first  man  wounded  that  afternoon  was  Corporal  Wm.  W. 
Perry,  of  Brookline.  Acting  Quartermaster  Howard,  who  was 
an  eye-witness,  says  :  "  A  shell  burst  over  our  heads,  and  I  saw 
a  piece  of  it  descend  with  a  queer  fluttering  sound,  and  strike 
Perry  on  the  top  of  the  head.  He  dropped  all  in  a  heap,  and  I 
supposed  was  killed,  but  on  going  to  him  I  found  him  alive,  and 
got  Myron  L.  Boynton,  of  Jamaica,  and  another  member  of  the 
band,  to  carry  him  off.  He  recovered,  and  still  lives  in  Brook- 
line." 

About  the  same  time  Jonathan  Durlam,  of  Company  K,  had 
his  leg  shattered  below  the  knee  by  a  piece  of  shell,  and,  though 
it  was  amputated  by  the  surgeons,  he  died  a  few  weeks  later  from 


A    .VOTE    FROM    THE    BAND.  IOI 

the  effects.  He  made  a  great  outcry,  and  Capt.  Barstow  exam 
ined  him,  but  could  find  no  blood  or  scratch  upon  him,  and  jok 
ingly  told  him  he  was  a  lucky  man  and  would  be  pensioned 
for  life.  But  Durlam  continued  to  groan  and  appeared  to  be 
in  great  agony,  so  the  captain  shouted  to  Maj.  Dillingham  to 
know  where  the  musicians,  and  quartermaster,  and  the  stretch 
ers  were.  "The  men,"  he  said,  "were  being  mowed  down,  and 
no  provision  was  made  for  their  care."  Col.  Thomas,  who  over 
heard  the  call,  wanted  to  know  what  the  quartermaster  was 
wanted  for.  Capt.  Barstow  replied  that  the  army  regulations 
said  that  the  musicians,  in  charge  of  the  quartermaster,  should 
carry  off  the  wounded.  "That's  so,"  said  Maj.  Dillingham, 
and  a  messenger  was  quickly  dispatched  to  the  rear.  Soon  a 
band  man  responded,  and  "  a  greater  exhibition  of  moving 
fright  I  never  saw,"  said  the  captain. 

"  Where  is  your  stretcher  ?  "  asked  Barstow. 

"  What 's  a  stretcher  ?  "  asked  the  trembling  tooter. 

"  Did  n't  the  surgeon  give  you  any  stretcher  for  bringing  off 
the  dead  ?"  asked  the  officer. 

"  I  do  n't  know  nothing  about  your  stretcher,"  gasped  the 
band  man. 

"  Never  come  on  to  the  field  again  without  a  stretcher,"  said 
Col.  Thomas  sternly,  and  the  man  grew  paler  than  ever,  and 
stammered  out  : 

"What  do  you  want  of  me  now?" 

Finally  the  captain  ordered  him  to  tear  some  cypress  slabs 
from  a  fence,  and  showed  him  how  to  improvise  a  litter,  on 
which  the  wounded  man  was  placed,  when  a  "second  note  of 
the  band"  arrived  on  the  scene.  But  it  required  four  men  to 
bear  away  the  burden. 

"Who  will  go  back  with  this  man  ? "  asked  Captain  Barstow. 

Nearly  every  man  in  an  adjacent  company  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  signified  a  hearty  willingness  to  go  to  the  rear.  But  the 
captain  sternly  told  them  that  Company  K  could  take  care  of 
their  own  wounded. 

As  has  already  been  intimated,  the  fighting  continued  with 
unabated  energy  until  the  gathering  darkness  compelled  a  ces- 


102  THE    EIGHTH    VERMOATT. 

sation  of  hostilities,  and  the  troops  fell  back  out  of  range  of  the 
enemy's  guns,  and  slept  on  their  arms. 

After  the  regiment  had  fallen  back  an  incident  occurred  that 
is  well  worth  mentioning.  The  Seventy-fifth  New  York  was 
within  supporting  distance  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  and  when 
the  troops  retired,  Adjutant  Lansing  of  that  regiment  and  two 
privates  were  left  wounded  on  the  field.  A  Confederate  surgeon 
with  an  ambulance  and  driver  came  out  and  picked  them  up. 
Then  the  surgeon  clambered  into  the  rear  of  the  wagon,  and 
was  about  to  start  for  the  enemy's  lines  with  his  prisoners, 
when  Adjutant  Lansing  drew  a  revolver,  covered  the  surgeon 
with  it,  and  ordered  the  negro  to  drive  to  the  Federal  lines 
instead. 

Early  Monday  morning  the  gun-boats  opened  a  heavy  fire 
upon  the  Confederate  works,  and  Capt.  Bainbridge,  supported 
by  the  Eighth  Vermont,  advanced  to  a  position  nearer  the  ene 
my's  line  than  that  occupied  the  previous  day,  and  resumed  the 
cannonading.  The  regiment  in  front  found  themselves  within 
reach  of  the  Confederate  infantry,  and  no  sooner  were  they  in 
position  than  a  volley  of  musket  balls  came  whizzing  over  their 
heads.  To  protect  his  men  as  much  as  possible,  Col.  Thomas 
ordered  them  to  lie  flat  upon  the  ground,  close  behind  some 
bushes.  It  was  well  that  this  precaution  was  taken,  for  the 
enemy  soon  aimed  so  low  and  fired  so  fast  that  their  bullets  cut 
off  the  bushes  and  scattered  them  among  the  prostrate  men. 
During  the  entire  day  the  regiment  lay  on  the  ground,  while 
cannon  thundered  in  front  and  rear,  and  projectiles  of  every  de 
scription  went  screaming  over  their  heads.  Two  or  three  dif 
ferent  times  they  were  ordered  to  form  in  line  for  a 'charge 
upon  the  works,  but  as  soon  as  they  were  upon  their  feet 
so  deadly  a  fire  was  turned  upon  them  that  the  attempt  was 
abandoned. 

After  the  first  excitement  had  subsided,  and  the  men  began 
to  get  used  to  their  uncomfortable  position,  those  who  were 
cool  enough  to  enjoy  it  found  opportunity  to  make  a  very  inter 
esting  study  of  projectiles.  Lying  there  on  the  earth  they 


THE    REBEL     YELL.  .        103 

could  watch  on  a  grand  scale  the  graceful  curves  described  by 
shot  and  shell  in  their  swift  aerial  passage,  and  criticise  to  their 
hearts'  content  the  display  of  the  gunner's  skill.  Their  ears 
soon  learned  to  distinguish  the  peculiar  sound  made  by  different 
kinds  of  missiles,  and  they  were  enabled  to  make  some  approxi 
mate  estimates  as  to  the  number  of  balls  that  miscarried  where 
one  did  execution.  They  learned,  too,  that,  even  under  such 
trying  circumstances,  a  man  may  base  his  chances  of  life  on  the 
fact  that,  in  a  battle,  so  many  balls  are  wasted  that  a  soldier 
cannot  be  killed  until  the  enemy  has  discharged  at  him  a  weight 
of  l§ad  equal  to  his  own.  And  better  than  all  else,  they  learned, 
perhaps,  a  valuable  lesson  of  obedience  and  self-control,  and 
beheld  a  new  vision  of  devoted  patriotism,  as  they  saw  their 
leader  sit  calmly  by  them  on  his  horse,  watching  over  them,  as 
a  tender  father  might  guard  his  children  in  an  hour  of  peril. 

One  attempt  only  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  break  Gen. 
Weitzel's  lines.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the 
Union  troops  were  startled  by  that  most  hideous  of  modern  war 
cries,  known  as  the  "  rebel  yell.  "  It  sounded  from  the  covert 
of  heavy  timber  on  the  left,  and  the  officers  at  once  understood 
that  "Dick"  Taylor  was  about  to  charge  upon  the  left  flank. 
This  was  the  first  time  the  Vermont  boys  had  heard  that  fiend 
ish  sound,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  they  were  appalled 
by  it  for  a  moment,  and  thought  their  time  had  come  to  be 
"wiped  out."  But  Weitzel,  anticipating  this  attempt,  had 
ordered  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  and  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  New  York  to  throw  their  combined  force  into  the 
timber ;  and,  after  a  sharp  encounter,  the  rebels  who  charged 
with  a  yell,  retreated  in  confusion  and  precipitate  haste  to  the 
cover  of  their  works. 

During  that  day's  fight  there  were  some  artillery  shots  made 
that  deserve  special  mention.  As  he  was  watching  the  manoeu 
vres  of  the  enemy,  Col.  Thomas  saw  a  section  of  a  rebel  battery 
moving  from  the  right  to  the  left,  and  said  to  Capt.  Bainbridge, 
who  was  remarkably  skilful  as  a  gunner :  "  Captain,  can't  you 
give 'em  a  shot?"  "I  will  try,"  answered  Bainbridge;  and 
quickly  sighting  a  piece,  he  threw  a  shell  with  such  accuracy 


104  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

that  when  it  burst,  horses,  riders,  and  gun  were  wiped  out  of 
view ;  and,  as  if  to  make  sure  that  the  shot  was  fatal,  the  three 
dead  horses  were  found  near  that  spot  when*  the  Union  army 
entered  the  works  on  the  following  day. 

As  one  means  of  defence  the  enemy  made  use  of  the  gun-boat 
Diana,  which  they  had  recently  captured  from  the  Union  navy. 
It  contained  a  heavy  bow-gun,  with  which  they  were  doing 
great  damage.  On  seeing  this,  Col.  McMillan,  of  the  Twenty- 
first  Indiana,  which  had  been  converted  into  heavy  artillery, 
sighted  one  of  his  pieces  with  such  precision  that  a  thirty-two 
pound  shot  went  crashing  through  the  vessel  nearly  her  entire 
length,  and  so  deranged  her  machinery  that  she  was  disabled, 
and  sent  up  the  bayou. 

Considering  the  exposed  position  in  which  the  Eighth  Regi 
ment  lay  for  two  days,  it  is  remarkable  that  only  one  man, 
Adolphus  Blanchard,  of  Company  G,  was  killed,  and  only  a  few 
were  wounded.  William  Carley,  of  Company  E,  and  John  W. 
McCauley,  of  Company  F,  were  among  the  latter.  But  several 
officers  and  privates  had  very  narrow  escapes.  Col.  Thomas 
saw  a  shot  coming  towards  him,  as  he  was  sitting  on  his  horse, 
and  it  just  brushed  past  his  ear.  A  piece  of  shell,  or  a  bullet, 
cut  off  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham's  collar  button,  and  left  a  red 
mark  on  his  throat.  A  young  private  in  Company  C,  named 
Danforth,  was  very  uneasy  while  the  regiment  lay  prostrate  in 
front  of  the  batteries,  and  kept  jumping  up  to  look  at  the 
enemy.  Several  times  Col.  Thomas  ordered  him  back  to  his 
place  ;  but  soon  he  jumped  up  again,  and  instantly  a  cannon 
shot  struck  the  very  spdt  he  had  just  left  and  buried  itself  in 
the  ground.  "  Down  there,  again,  as  quick  as  you  can ! " 
thundered  the  stern  voice  of  the  colonel.  "  If  you  had  been 
where  you  belong,  you  would  have  been  cut  in  two.  But  light 
ning  never  strikes  twice  in  the  same  place,  and  now  you  will 
be  safe." 

Night  came  on  again  without  bringing  a  decided  victory  to 
either  side,  and  the  Union  troops  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle, 
expecting  on  the  following  day  to  resume  the  artillery  fire,  or 
charge  the  works  in  a  general  assault.  But  in  the  morning  it 


FLIGHT    OF    THE    ENEMY.  10$ 

was  discovered  that  the  wily  "  Dick "  Taylor  had  evacuated 
Bisland  with  his  entire  army,  and  under  cover  of  darkness  had 
made  good  his  retreat  in  the  direction  of  Franklin. 

The  plan  of  Gen.  Banks  was  to  have  Grover's  division  cut  off 
the  enemy's  escape  ;  but,  owing  to  difficulty  in  landing  his 
troops,  that  officer  failed  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  But  one 
course  remained,  therefore,  and,  without  stopping  for  morning 
rations  to  be  served,  Gen.  Weitzel  formed  his  brigade  in  march 
ing  order,  with  the  Eighth  Vermont  in  advance,  and  Company 
H,  commanded  by  Capt.  Button,  as  skirmishers,  and  pursued 
the  flying  army.  Hovering  close  upon  their  rear,  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  taken  during  the  day,  and  the  fugitive  army  was 
driven  beyond  Franklin. 

Since  the  date  of  the  Bisland  engagement,  the  singular  fact 
has  come  to  light  that  Gen.  Taylor,  utterly  ignorant  of  the 
movements  of  Gen.  Banks,  had  planned  to  march  his  army  to 
Brashear  City  and  attack  the  Union  forces,  on  the  very  same 
day  that  Banks  opened  his  guns  on  Bisland.  Consequently,  if 
this  attack  had  been  postponed  even  for  twenty-four  hours,  the 
Confederates  would  have  taken  the  offensive. 

There  was  more  or  less  skirmishing  during  the  day,  chiefly 
by  the  cavalry,  but  the  troops  moved  rapidly  forward  without 
serious  resistance.  In  this  way  the  army  followed  the  enemy 
for  several  days,  marching  an  average  of  twenty-five  miles  each 
day,  through  a  rich,  high  country  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
low  lands  of  southern  Louisiana,  which  the  men  had  recently 
abandoned.  On  reaching  Franklin  the  army  rested  a  few  hours, 
and  while  there  "  Old  Joe,"  a  colored  man  whom  all  will  recol 
lect,  was  seen  near  some  bushes  with  a  musket  pointed  at 
some  concealed  object.  "Come  out  dar ! "  shouted  Old  Joe, 
"  come  out  dar,  or  I  '11  fire  !"  At  his  command  two  Confederate 
soldiers  emerged  from  the  covert  of  bushes,  and  surrendered 
themselves  as  prisoners.  Then  the  march  was  resumed  through 
New  Iberia  and  thence  to  Vermillionville,  where  the  Confed 
erates  made  a  stand  and  slight  resistance.  This  caused  the  brig 
ade  to  form  in  line  of  battle,  and  prepare  for  attack ;  but  again 
the  enemy  deemed  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  fled,. 


106  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

closely  followed  by  their  pursuers  ;  and  the  rapid  march  was 
again  resumed  till  the  brigade  reached  Opelousas  on  the  2Oth 
of  April.  Here  they  went  into  camp  for  a  few  days  to  recu 
perate,  and  were  reviewed  by  Gen.  Banks  and  staff.  The 
quarters  here  formed  a  striking  contrast  with  those  to  which 
the  regiment  had  been  previously  assigned,  and  the  men  exer 
cised  their  taste  in  adorning  the  camp  with  evergreen  arches, 
and  making  it  attractive.  But  the  officers,  who  occupied  head 
quarters  in  the  yard  of  the  Mansion  House,  will  not  forget  the 
hideous  matutinal  salute  of  scores  of  neighborly  peacocks  that 
roosted  in  the  trees  in  the  vicinity. 

By  this  vigorous  movement  the  Teche  country,  which  had 
been  so  long  closed  to  the  Union  soldiers,  was  opened,  and  they 
enjoyed  for  a  while  the  luxury  of  "living  off  the  country"  that 
abounded  in  fresh  vegetables  and  good  beef  and  chickens,  with 
which  the  cooks  delighted  to  furnish  forth  the  daily  rations. 
And  since  the  Teche  is  called  the  garden  of  Louisiana,  the 
reader  will  pardon  a  digression,  and  be  pleased  to  read  a  quota 
tion  from  Gen.  "Dick"  Taylor's  book  on  the  war,  wherein  he 
writes  :  "  In  all  my  wanderings,  and  they  have  been  many  and 
wide,  I  cannot  recall  so  fair,  so  beautiful,  so  happy  a  land." 

During  the  halt  at  Opelousas,  Capt.  Craig,  of  Company  G, 
died  of  disease.  He  had  left  a  lucrative  law  practice  in  Vermont 
to  enter  the  service  of  his  country.  As  an  officer  he  was  a 
thorough  disciplinarian,  always  looking  out  for  the  comfort  and 
rights  of  his  men.  In  this  campaign  he  suffered  from  illness, 
but  pluckily  kept  on  with  his  company  through  all  the  hard 
ships  and  exposures  of '  the  rapid  march  to  this  place.  But 
nature  refused  to  do  more,  and,  far  away  from  the  friends  and 
places  he  loved,  he  passed  away ;  and  his  comrades  tenderly 
laid  him  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  near  the  old  church  in  Opelousas. 


ALEXANDRIA. 

After  a  sojourn  of  two  weeks,  the  line  was  again  formed,  and 
the  brigade  began  to  move  at  three  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of 


A    u  VERMONT    CAVALRY"    RACE.  IO? 

May  5th.  Being  in  good  condition,  the  troops  marched  all  that 
night  and  the  day  following,  and  the  second  night  bivouacked 
in  line  of  battle.  Nothing  of  special  interest  occurred  until  the 
army  neared  Alexandria.  Company  C,  Capt.  Foster,  were 
thrown  out  as  skirmishers  on  the  last  day  of  that  severe  march. 
The  weather  was  hot  and  the  roads  extremely  dusty,  so  that 
many  of  the  men  fell  out  by  the  way  from  sheer  exhaustion,  and 
were  obliged  to  get  into  the  ambulances  and  mule  carts  that 
had  been  taken  from  the  plantations  en  route.  But  Gen.  Banks 
was  anxious  to  reach  Alexandria  that  evening,  and,  desiring  to 
humor  him  and  create  a  little  excitement,  the  Seventy-fifth 
New  York,  which  followed  next  to  the  Eighth  Vermont,  chal 
lenged  the  latter  to  a  race.  "  Vermont  Cavalry"  were  quite 
willing  to  give  their  neighbors  a  lesson  in  endurance,  and  the 
two  regiments  started  off  at  a  lively  rate,  the  Eighth  leading 
with  long,  quick  strides,  encouraged  by  lively  music  of  the 
band,  snatches  of  "John  Brown,"  and  other  familiar  war  songs, 
and  cheers  from  the  line  officers.  To  further  stimulate  the 
men,  a  field  officer  would  occasionally  dismount  and  give  some 
tired  private  rest  and  a  ride  in  his  saddle,  and  the  surgeons 
would  allow  a  faint  man  a  "pull  from  the  dark  bottle." 

Gen.  Weitzel,  deeming  it  essential  to  their  health  that  the 
brigade  should  be  served  a  ration  of  whiskey  on  reaching  camp, 
ordered  his  commissary,  Fred  E.  Smith,  to  go  forward  to  the 
city  with  the  advance,  and  secure  the  needed  stimulant  wher 
ever  he  could  find  it.  Accordingly,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening  Lieut.  Smith  returned  with  three  barrels  of  whiskey, 
which  he  took  from  a  hotel  in  Alexandria.  At  this  house  also 
the  quartermaster's  party  obtained  a  lunch,  in  payment  for 
which  greenbacks  were  offered.  But  the  landlord  refused  them, 
and  demanded  Confederate  money ;  this  demand  was  not  com 
plied  with,  however,  and  Lieut.  Smith  is  not  sure  but  he  is  still 
indebted  for  his  first  meal  in  Alexandria. 

In  this  way  ended  the  wearisome  march  to  Alexandria  ;  and 
when  the  Eighth  Vermont,  still  leading  the  brigade,  reached 
the  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  turned  into  a  field  where  they  were 
to  halt  for  the  night,  it  was  found  that  they  had  covered  a  dis- 


108  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

tance  of  ninety-one  miles.  As  soon  as  the  line  was  dismissed 
the  men  dropped  on  the  ground,  and  were  so  much  exhausted 
that  the  usual  roll-call  was  omitted,  and  tlTey  went  to  sleep 
without  any  supper.  The  next  day  the  brigade  marched  through 
the  city,  and  went  into  camp  in  a  pleasant  grove  on  the  river 
bank,  just  above  the  point  where  the  Federal  gun-boats  lay 
silent  in  the  stream. 

The  surprise  occasioned  by  the  sudden  entry  of  Union  forces 
into  Alexandria  was  something  ludicrous.  The  citizens  sup 
posed  that  "  Dick "  Taylor  held  sole  possession  of  all  the  ap 
proaches  to  the  town,  and  thought  indeed  that  no  detested 
Yankees  had  penetrated  within  many  miles  of  their  peaceful 
abode,  or  could  do  so.  When,  therefore,  Weitzel's  advance 
cavalry  came  galloping  into  the  streets,  and  the  Federal  gun 
boats  came  puffing  up  the  river,  the  people  were  filled  with 
utter  consternation,  and  everybody  who  cherished  secession 
sentiments,  and  those  who  felt  that  their  reputation  for  loyalty 
was  not  firmly  established,  fled  in  the  most  precipitous  haste. 
Traders  deserted  their  stores,  mechanics  their  shops,  and 
citizens  generally  their  houses.  It  was  a  genuine  scare,  and 
one  of  the  most  comical  evidences  of  it  was  found  by  some 
Union  soldiers  who  entered  a  newspaper  office,  from  which  both 
editor  and  printers  had  made  a  rapid  stampede.  The  compos 
itors  had  dropped  their  partly-filled  sticks  on  the  case  and  fled, 
and  one  of  them  which  was  examined,  contained  the  following 
unfinished  paragraph  :  "  News  has  been  received  that  Bisland 
has  been  evacuated,  and  '  Dick '  Taylor  is  inarching  towards 
Alexandria.  It  is  evident  that  Gen.  Banks  is  a  very  different 
man  from  " — 

While  resting  here  the  camp  was  startled  one  morning  by 
the  report  of  a  gun  and  a  shriek  from  some  one  in  Company  B, 
and  it  was  found  that  a  soldier,  while  laboring"  under  temporary 
insanity,  had  fatally  shot  Wagoner  Hill,  who  died  a  few  hours 
later.  The  mail  that  shortly  arrived  from  New  Orleans,  also 
brought  the  sad  intelligence  that  Capt.  J.  S.  Clark,  of  Com 
pany  K,  had  died  in  the  hospital. 

A  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  was  called 


MEMORIAL     TRIBUTES.  109 

in  consequence  of  this  death,  and  organized  with  Capt. 
Edward  Hall,  chairman,  and  Lieut.  George  N.  Carpenter,  sec 
retary.  Capt.  H.  F.  Button,  Capt.  J.  L.  Barstow,  and  Lieut. 
J.  B.  Mead,  were  chosen  a  committee  to  report  resolutions  of 
sorrow  for  the  death  of  Capt.  Craig  and  Capt.  Clark,  and  to 
tender  the  condolence  and  sympathy  of  the  regiment  to  the 
bereaved  families  of  the  late  officers. 

It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  Clark  to  record  that  his 
death  was  felt  to  be  a  great  loss  to  his  regiment  and  company. 
He  was  a  thorough  gentleman  of  quiet  disposition,  who  had 
been  led  to  enter  the  service  by  a  high  sense  of  patriotism  and 
duty.  During  his  limited  experience  in  the  field  he  had  ex 
hibited  a  coolness  and  bravery  that  won  admiration  and  gave 
promise  of  a  brilliant  military  career,  and  he  was  sincerely 
mourned  by  his  brother  officers. 

Learning  that  this  history  was  to  be  written,  Mr.  John  C. 
Clark,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  son  of  Capt.  J.  S.  Clark,  trans 
mitted  to  the  committee  of  publication  a  letter  from  Col.  F.  H. 
Hatch  to  his  mother,  a  copy  of  which  is  printed  below.  Con 
cerning  the  writer,  Mr.  Clark  says  :  "  Qol.  Hatch  was  a  thorough 
gentleman  and  a  conscientious  Christian,  and  one,  doubtless, 

who  took  the  stand  he  did  from  the  purest  motives 

Years  after  the  close  of  the  war  it  transpired  that  Col.  Hatch 
was  a  native  of  our  state,  having  been  born  at  Reading,  in  Wind 
sor  county,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  my  mother's  childhood 
home*  He  went  South  when  thirteen  years  old,  and  was  em 
ployed  as  a  stable-boy  in  New  Orleans.  When  the  war  broke 
out  he  was  collector  of  the  port  of  New  Orleans,  and  one  of  the 

worthiest  men  of  that  city I  inclose  also  a  copy  of  the 

record  in  the  Bible  mentioned  by  Col.  Hatch." 

The  reader  will  recall  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Hatch,  whose  sad  fate 
is  alluded  to  in  her  husband's  letter,  is  the  same  lady  who 
assisted  Mrs.  Sparks  in  taking  care  of  Capt.  S.  E.  Howard,  when 
he  lay  sick  at  Company  Canal.  The  record  referred  to  reads 

thus  : 

REFUGE,    NEW  ORLEANS,  March  22,  1863. 

Dark  Days.  Seven  years  ago  to-day  this  precious  book  was  given  me 
by  my  friend  J.  R.  J.,  Magnolia,  La. 


1 10  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Yesterday,  March  21,  my  friend  Capt.  J.  S.  Clark  was  buried  in  our 
vault  in  Girod  Cemetery,  N.  O.  One  of  the  bravest,  noblest,  and  best  of 

men.     May  our  last  end  be  like  his. 

•  • 

REFUGE,  OPPOSITE  NEW  ORLEANS,  June  30!,  1866. 
MRS.  J.  S.  CLARK  : 

Madam :  In  overhauling  and  adjusting  my  library,  which  was  restored 
to  me  in  a  scattered  and  confused  condition,  I  found  the  accompanying 
Bible,  containing  a  record  of  the  death  and  entombment  of  Capt.  Clark, 
and  a  feeling  tribute  to  his  memory. 

It  was  presented  to  Mrs.  Hatch  some  years  since  by  a  Mr.  J.  R. 
Jackson,  a  planter  of  this  state,  and  a  pious  and  worthy  friend,  and  I  send 
it  to  you  with  the  presentation  memorandum  inclosed,  precisely  as  I  found 
it,  thinking  it  would  be  a  pleasing  memento  of  the  worth  and  excellence  of 
your  late  husband,  calculated  to  inspire  in  the  minds  of  his  children  a  rev 
erence  for  his  character,  and  to  stimulate  an  emulation  of  his-virtues. 

It  will  perhaps  be  the  more  prized  as  emanating  from  one  who  stood 
in  a  relatively  antagonistic  position  to  him,  and  who  lost  her  own  life  by  a 
sincere  devotion  to  a  cause  opposed  to  that  in  which  Capt.  Clark  was  as 
honestly  engaged ;  and  it  is  a  sad  commentary  on  the  evils  of  civil  strife  to 
reflect  that  she,  whose  ear  was  never  deaf  to  the  calls  of  affection,  and 
whose  'hand  was  ever  ready  to  do  the  biddings  of  her  benevolent  nature 
toward  friend  or  foe,  in  the  hour  of  distress,  should  have  been  rudely 
thrust,  in  a  state  of  extreme  debility,  from  that  home  from  which  she  had 
so  freely  dispensed  those  ministrations  of  mercy.  This  act  of  cruelty,  at 
the  very  close  of  the  war,  cost  her  her  reason  and  her  life. 

We  can  therefore  mutually  deprecate  those  evils  which  have  bereft  us 
of  half  the  joy  and  solace  of  our  earthly  life,  and  cast  a  lasting  shadow 
over  the  remnant  which  remains  to  us. 

Now  that  .Mrs.  Hatch  has  deceased,  in  order  that  your  mind  may  be 
at  perfect  ease  in  relation  to  the  remains  of  Capt.  Clark,  I  will  add, 'that  I 
had  purchased  a  tomb  for  her  in  another  cemetery  near  to  my  present  resi 
dence,  and  that  that  in  which  Capt.  Clark  was  entombed,  will  remain 
undisturbed,  without  any  inconvenience  or  embarrassment  to  myself. 

Hoping  the  memento  will  be  acceptable,  I  am,  madam, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
F.  H.  HATCH. 

In  a  few  days  it  was  reported  that  Gen.  Taylor  still  had  a 
considerable  force  with  him  beyond  Alexandria,  and  Gen. 
Banks  ordered  Weitzel's  division  to  move  on  his  track  May 
nth  ;  but,  after  marching  about  thirty-five  miles  into  the  pine 
woods,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  was  retreating  so  rapidly 


ON    TO    PORT   HUDSON.  Ill 

that  it  would  be  impossible  to  overtake  them,  and  the  brigade 
returned  into  camp  two  days  later. 

The  campaign  had  resulted  in  scattering  Taylor's  forces,  and 
so  far  demoralizing  them  that  it  was  several  weeks  before  he 
could  collect  them  again,  while  the  enemy  had  been  reduced 
by  the  capture  of  over  two  thousand  prisoners,  twenty-two 
cannon,  and  two  steamers,  and  the  destruction  of  eight  Con 
federate  gun-boats  and  steamers. 

The  army  remained  at  Alexandria  until  the  i/th  instant, 
when  it  again  started  on  the  march,  and  reached  Simsport  on 
the  24th.  There  the  sick  were  transferred  to  boats,  to  be  taken 
to  New  Orleans,  and  the  men  were  relieved  of  all  superflu 
ous  baggage,  preparatory  to  the  work  awaiting  them.  And  at 
length  the  news  came  that  it  was  to  go  to  Port  Hudson,  and 
unite  with  the  forces  at  Baton  Rouge  in  the  reduction  of 
that  stronghold. 


PORT    HUDSON. 

AT  Simsport  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade  was  taken  on  transports 
and  conveyed  by  way  of  the  Atchafalaya  and  Red  rivers  to 
Bayou  Sara  on  the  Mississippi,  while  Quartermaster  Smith  went 
by  land  with  the  trains.  The  troops  landed  about  midnight  of 
May  25th,  and  at  two  o'clock  next  morning  set  out  for  the  des 
tined  scene  of  their  next  operations,  about  five  miles  down  the 
river.  Nor  was  the  movement  begun  a  moment  too  soon,  for 
while  on  the  way,  word  was  brought  to  hurry  forward  with  all 
speed,  for  it  was  feared  that  the  Confederate  garrison  might 
attempt  to  evacuate  the  place  and  escape.  So,  quickening  their 
march,  the  troops  soon  went  into  position  in  line  of  battle,  on 
the  right,  near  Foster  creek. 

The  ultimate  object  of  the  well-planned  campaign  undertaken 
by  Maj.  Gen.  Banks  was  the  removal  of  impediments  and  open 
ing  the  Mississippi  for  the  safe  passage  of  Union  vessels. 
These  operations  began  with  the  crossing  of  Berwick  bay  on 
the  Qth  of  April,  and  were  to  culminate  in  the  reduction  of 
Port  Hudson.  To  accomplish  this  end  he  was  to  co-operate 
with  Gen.  Grant,  who  at  the  same  time  was  slowly  advancing 
on  Vicksburg. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  prelimi 
nary  steps  in  this  plan,  or  to  ask  why  Gen.  Banks  delayed  so 
long  decisive  action.  It  is  enough  to  remind  the  reader  that 
Gen.  "Dick"  Taylor  had  a  strong  force  in  the  Teche  ready  to 
fall  upon  New  Orleans,  if  the  troops  that  held  it  were  with- 


THE    FORTIFICATIONS.  113 

drawn  for  service  higher  up  the  river.  So  many  troops  were, 
therefore,  required  to  hold  what  had  already  been  gained,  that 
Banks  was  unable  to  invest  Port  Hudson  with  an  adequate 
army,  until  he  should  first  scatter  Taylor's  forces,  or  drive 
them  so  far  into  the  interior  that  New  Orleans  would  be  safe 
from  immediate  capture.  So  far  as  the  Eighth  Vermont  were 
concerned,  their  experience  since  leaving  Algiers  had  been  of 
great  practical  advantage  in  preparing  them  for  the  work 
before  them  ;  for  they  had  acquired  valuable  discipline,  and  the 
successes  they  had  achieved  inspired  them  with  courage  and 
faith,  so  that  they  joined  in  that  important  conflict  confident  of 
victory. 

The  situation  of  Port  Hudson  was  favorable  for  defensive 
action  both  by  land  and  by  water.  It  occupied  the  summit  of 
a  cliff  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  forming  almost  a 
semi-circle  about  a  bend  in  the  river.  Long  stretches  of 
broken  ground,  with  hills,  woods,  and  ravines,  made  it  difficult 
of  access  from  the  surrounding  country.  During  an  interval 
of  several  months  the  enemy  had  constructed  around  the  place 
a  series  of  works  of  remarkable  strength.  A  heavy,  well- 
mounted  battery  commanded  the  bluff  on  the  water  side,  at  an 
elevation  of  about  eighty  feet  above  the  river.  A  continuous 
line  of  parapet  with  an  abatis  encircled  the  place,  from  Ross's 
Landing,  about  a  mile  below  the  fort,  to  the  water's  edge  on 
the  northern  side.  Every  adjacent  hill  was  a  redoubt.  Heavy 
artillery  raked  the  ravines  and  open  spaces.  Bristling  guns 
covered  all  approaches.  The  outworks  were  well  planned  to 
delay  an  attacking  army  and  impede  progress  ;  and  when  the 
forces  of  Gen.  Banks  went  into  position  on  the  twenty-sixth, 
the  commanding  officers  knew  that  a  severe  struggle  must  take 
place  before  the  Union  flag  would  float  above  the  garrison. 

In  the  investment  of  this  stronghold  Gen,  Weitzel's  division 
occupied  the  right,  Generals  Augur  and  Grover  the  centre,  and 
Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman  the  left,  while  Farragut's  fleet  engaged 
the  batteries  in  the  river.  The  plan  was  fully  outlined  to  the 
commanders  of  brigades,  regiments,  and  batteries,  the  night 
before  the  assault  began,  and  Gen.  Banks  ordered  the  attack  to 
8 


114  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

open  simultaneously  all  along  the  lines.  In  the  engagement 
Col.  Thomas  commanded  Weitzel's  brigade,  consisting  of  the 
Eighth  Vermont,  Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fourteenth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York  ; 
while  Lieut.  Col,  Dillingham  commanded  his  regiment.  It  was 
also  of  special  advantage  that  these  troops  had  served  together 
for  a  long  time  under  Col.  Thomas,  and  had  confidence  in 
each  other  as  well  as  in  their  leader. 

THE   FIRST   ASSAULT. 

In  accordance  with  orders,  the  fleet  in  the  river  opened  with 
cheir  guns  on  the  morning  of  the  2/th  of  May,  and  rained  shot 
and  shell  upon  the  garrison  ;  the  land  batteries  began  firing 
with  great  spirit  and  determination  ;  and  the  ground  fairly 
shook,  while  the  air  echoed  with  the  noise  of  battle.  Weitzel's 
division  at  once  moved  into  action,  and  at  the  onset  Thomas's 
brigade  was  the  third  line  of  battle.  The  first  line  advanced 
and  found  the  enemy  as  soon  as  they  entered  the  woods,  and 
the  musketry  fire  became  heavy  and  incessant.  Progress  was 
slow,  owing  to  the  obstructions  in  the  way,  and,  being  com 
pletely  exposed  to  a  raking  fire,  the  men  in  the  foremost  lines 
fell  rapidly  ;  and  while  trying  to  force  the  enemy  from  the  outer 
positions  they  were  so  badly  broken  that  Gen.  Weitzel  ordered 
Thomas  to  charge  with  his  brigade.  His  men  responded 
nobly,  led  by  the  gallant  colonel  on  foot,  for  orders  had  been 
given  to  the  field  and  staff  officers  to  leave  their  horses  in  the 
rear.  In  a  few  moments  they  passed  the  broken  lines  of  the 
other  brigades,  fell  upon  the  enemy  with  a  rush,  drove  them 
from  their  position,  captured  many  of  them,  and  hurried  the 
rest  from  point  to  point,  until  they  were  sent  back  in  disorder 
behind  their  main  fortifications. 

When  Col.  Thomas  halted  his  line  after  his  brilliant  sally, 
they  found  themselves  within  fifty  or  seventy-five  yards  of  the 
main  earthworks,  and  .exposed  to  a  murderous  fire  which  the 
Confederates  instantly  opened  upon  them.  To  remain  there  or 
attempt  to  scale  the  works  was  wholesale  butchery,  and,  not 


PORT 
HUDSON. 


A    BRAVE    ASSAULT.  11$ 

having  orders  to  thus  sacrifice  his  men,  Thomas  fell  back  to 
the  cover  of  a  ravine,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Weitzel  what  he 
had  done.  Word  came  back  to  hold  his  position  if  possible  ; 
and,  had  the  plan  of  attack  been  strictly  followed  throughout 
the  lines,  it  is  believed  that  Col.  Thomas  might  have  advanced 
again,  and  Port  Hudson  would  have  fallen  that  day.  But  the 
attack  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left  was  not  begun  in  earnest 
until  the  afternoon,  and  the  enemy,  seeing  that  the  charge  on 
the  right  had  failed,  were  able  to  throw  their  entire  force 
against  Sherman  and  Augur.  In  this  brave  attack  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Weitzel  lost  heavily,  and,  when  the  lack  of  co-operation 
became  apparent,  it  is  said  that  he  sent  word  to  Gen.  Banks 
that  he  had  "yet  to  learn  that  any  other  general  had  co-operated 
in  the  assault,  which  was  ordered  to  be  simultaneous."  Be  that 
as  it  may,  nothing  can  detract  from  the  credit  due  Col.  Thomas 
and  his  gallant  brigade  on  that  eventful  day  ;  and  let  it  be 
recorded  that  they  took  up  and  sustained  the  charge  at  a  crit 
ical  moment,  led  by  the  colonel  in  front  of  his  troops.  Among 
his  losses  were  numbered  two  valuable  staff  officers  :  Capt 
Hubbard,  assistant  adjutant  general,  and  Lieut.  Wrotnouski, 
were  killed  during  the  halt  under  the  main  earthworks.  Both 
were  held  in  high  esteem  by  their  fellow  officers  and  the  men 
under  their  immediate  commands. 

The  total  loss  throughout  the  lines  on  May  2/th,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  was  nearly  two  thousand  men. 
Thomas's  brigade  suffered  considerably,  and  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  lost  eighty-eight,  including  the  wounded  and  killed. 
Those  killed  were :  in  Company  A,  Joseph  O.  Kimball,  Zolvey 
Sargeant ;  in  Company  C,  David  N.  George  ;  in  Company  D, 
Henry  Butterfield,  Jr.  ;  in  Company  E,  George  E.  Wedgewood ; 
in  Company  F,  Edward  Ducharme,  Peter  Henchey  ;  in  Com 
pany  G,  George  W.  Battles,  Dennis  Ryan  ;  in  Company  H, 
Charles  Bartlett,  Wilbur.  F.  Bowker.  June  nth,  .Porter  J. 
Whitney,  Company  I. 

A  great  amount  of  time  and  labor  have  been  expended  to 
make  the  list  of  wounded  on  this  date  and  the  I4th  of  June  as 
complete  as  possible,  but  after  consulting  every  available  source 


II 6  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

of  information  both  lists  are  but  partially  filled.  So  far  as 
obtained  the  names  are  :  Col.  Stephen  Thomas,  scalp  wound  on 
left  temple ;  in  Company  A,  Wm.  W.  Kinsley,  Moses  Larue, 
John  B.  Chayer,  C.  W.  Boynton  ;  in  Company«B,  Corp.  H.  H. 
Holt,  T.  W.  Page  ;  in  Company  C,  Capt.  H.  E.  Foster,  H.  K. 
Page,  J.  Colcott,  C.  Collins,  H.  G.  Perigo,  C.  A.  Newman,  A. 
J.  Keith,  H.  W.  Prisby  (whose  hurt  proved  fatal)  ;  in  Com 
pany  D,  Sergt.  Nathaniel  Robie,  Mason  B.  Jenkins,  Asa  S. 
Emery  ;  in  Company  E,  F.  Y.  Snow,  George  Maxham,  Julius 
McMurphy ;  in  Company  G,  Lieut.  James  Welch,  Lyman  B. 
Evans,  Paschal  Bissonett,  Daniel  W.  Eaton,  Chas.  W.  Battles ; 
in  Company  H,  Sergt.  W.  H.  Smith,  Geo.  R.  Harrington, 
Cyrus  M.  White,  Amos  L.  Jenkins,  Samuel  S.  Childs,  James 
Frascovia ;  in  Company  I,  Geo.  J.  Bishop,  Henry  G.  Baldwin; 
in  Company  K,  D.  D.  Fairbanks,  W.  H.  Silsby,  Charles 
Drown.  May  2Qth,  Con  Carmody,  Company  G,  was  wounded, 
and  died  in  consequence  July  23d  ;  June  1 2th,  Lewis  Amel, 
Company  E,  and  Eben  Pond,  Company  K. 

After  the  death  of  Capt.  Hubbard,  Capt.  John  L.  Barstow, 
of  Company  K,  was  detailed  as  acting  adjutant  general  of  the 
brigade. 

June  5th,  David  C.  Bell,  of  Company  G,  was  discharged  to 
accept  a  position  as  contract  surgeon. 

To  fully  appreciate  the  splendid  behavior  of  the  Vermont 
troops  in  this  first  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  it  must  not  be  for 
gotten  that  the  failure  of  the  other  generals  to  join  promptly  in 
the  attack  left  the  enemy  free  to  concentrate  all  their  fire  upon 
Weitzel.  But  into  this  storm  of  death  Col.  Thomas  did  not 
send  his  men  alone — he  led  them  as  was  his  wont,  and 
exposed  his  own  person  where  the  shots  were  thickest.  His 
words  of  encouragement  sounded  in  their  ears  as  they  paused 
under  the  very  walls  of  the  stronghold  after  the  fearful  charge 
was  made  ;  and  still  keeping  in  th'eir  front,  Thomas  gave  the 
notable  order  for  every  man  to  cease  promiscuous  firing,  and 
act  as  a  sharpshooter. 

Before  the  order  was  given  to  charge  a  singular  incident  oc- 


Forbes  Co. 


CAPT.  HENRY  E.  FOSTER,  Co.  C, 


IN    THE    TRENCHES.  1 1/ 

curred.  Charles  E.  Hardy  and  Levi  Skinner,  of  Company  Cr 
saw  two  rebel  soldiers  about  a  hundred  yards  away,  in  the  act 
of  loading  their  muskets.  Taking  deliberate  aim,  the  Ver 
mont  boys  fired  upon  them,  and  a  few  moments  later  saw  them 
lying  dead  as  the  lines  swept  on  to  the  attack. 

After  the  failure  of  the  first  charge,  Gen.  Banks  abandoned 
for  a  time  any  further  attempt  to  carry  the  enemy's  works  by 
assault,  and  set  about  the  preparations  for  a  protracted  siege. 
On  the  night  of  the  battle  he  ordered  the  troops  to  throw  up 
entrenchments,  and  hold  their  positions  at  all  hazards. 

Or!  the  following  day  there  was  an  armistice  of  a  few  hours, 
in  order  that  the  dead  might  be  buried  and  the  wounded  cared 
for ;  then  the  white  flags  were  pulled  down,  and  the  warning 
sound  of  bullets  announced  the  resumption  of  hostilities. 

For  several  days  the  troops  were  occupied  in  strengthening 
the  lines,  mounting  guns,  selecting  sharpshooters,  and  making 
all  as  secure  as  possible  within  the  trenches.  Meanwhile  a 
brisk  fire  of  musketry  and  the  boom  of  cannons  was  incessant 
along  the  lines,  and  the  "heated  guns  "  of  the  enemy  "belched 
forth  their  thunder."  Shells  went,  screaming  overhead  and 
crashed  through  the  trees,  or  fell  among  the  cooks'  and  quarter 
masters'  trains  in  the  rear.  The  midnight  darkness  was  illu 
mined  by  the  fiery  missiles  projected  from  the  mortars,  and 
occasionally,  as  they  set  fire  to  some  building  within  the  strong 
hold,  a  quick  blaze  would  cast  its  lurid  glare  upon  the  parapets  ; 
and  the  rebels  never  tired  of  discharging  a  huge  cannon  which 
the  boys  named  "  old  demoralizer,"  in  order  to  prevent  the 
besiegers  from  getting  needful  rest. 

The  service  required  in  the  trenches  was  very  exacting,  and 
one  half  the  regiment  was  on  duty  while  the  other  rested  on 
their  arms,  ready  in  turn  to  relieve  their  comrades,  or  to  spring 
into  line  at  any  sudden  word  of  command.  The  natural  result 
of  this  arduous,  irregular  life,  the  privation  and  exposure,  the 
strain  of  constant  watching,  was  that  large  numbers  of  the 
men  fell  sick  and  were  unfit  for  duty  ;  so  that  the  service  bore 
more  and  more  heavily  on  those  who  could  endure  it.  But  the 
force  was  so  small,  considering  the  number  of  miles  to  be 


I  1 8  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

guarded  and  held  by  the  lines,  that  no  available  man  could  be 
spared,  and  a  soldier  must  be  pretty  badly  off  before  he  could 
be  sent  to  the  temporary  hospital  which  Surgeon  Gillett  had 
opened.  • 

Another  source  of  constant  depletion  of  the  Federal  forces 
was  the  vigilant  work  of  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  and  every 
day  brave  men  were  wounded  by  these  well-aimed  rifle  balls, 
and  many  were  killed.  On  this  account  it  was  necessary  to 
exercise  extreme  caution  every  moment,  lest  some  unguarded 
movement  should  expose  the  person  to  this  deadly  fire.  Not  a 
hat  or  a  hand  could  be  raised  above  the  earthworks  without 
drawing  a  shower  of  bullets,  and  woe  to  the  poor  man  who  was 
so  imprudent  or  careless  as  to  venture  beyond  the  close  cover 
of  the  trenches.  But  sharpshooting  is  a  game  that  both  sides 
may  play  at,  and,  if  the  investing  army  lost  many  brave  fellows 
by  this  means,  Banks's  keen  shots  failed  of  their  inten 
tions  if  they  did  not  pick  off  a  Johnny  for  every  Union  man 
who  fell.  In  time  this  death-dealing  practice  became  a  nice 
exercise  of  skill,  and  many  a  Yankee  trick  was  resorted  to  for 
discovering  the  position  of  an  enemy  on  whom  an  expert  sharp 
shooter  desired  to  draw  a  bead.  One  method  was  to  cautiously 
raise  a  hat  above  the  trenches  on  the  point  of  a  bayonet,  when 
a  Confederate  would  fire  at  it,  and  receive  a  return  shot  aimed 
at  his  puff  of  smoke. 

Besides  the  danger  from  missiles  and  disease,  there  were 
manifold  discomforts  of  minor  importance,  which  in  the  aggre 
gate  added  greatly  to  the  constant  discomfort  of  the  daily  life 
of  a  besieging  army.  Conveniences  were  not  to  be  thought  of 
at  such  a  time  ;  no  good  sleep  was  possible  ;  food  was  poorly 
cooked  and  irregularly  served  ;  cleanliness  was  out  of  the  ques 
tion  for  lack  of  water  in  which  to  bathe  ;  and  changes  of  rai 
ment  were  not  as  frequent  as  a  well-bred  man  might  desire. 
Heat  was  intense,  filth  abounded,  and  worse  than  all  other 
annoyances  combined  were  the  parasitic  pests  that  swarmed  in 
every  quarter,  and  disputed  every  inch  of  crawling  room  in 
order  to  maintain  the  closest  possible  fellowship  with  all  the 
men. 


HOW    THEY   LI  TED.  I  1 9 

The  brigade  headquarters  were  only  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  from  the  Confederate  works,  and  in  close  proximity 
thereto  were  the  headquarters  of  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham  ;  and 
these  had  to  be  shifted  from  place  to  place  in  order  to  avoid  the 
murderous  fire  of  sharpshooters.  Capt.  Barstow,  whose  duties 
included  a  large  amount  of  writing,  had  for  his,  portable  desk  a 
bread-box,  and  the  same  ^//convenience  served  also  as  a  dining 
table.  Nor  were  the  officers  exempt  from  the  dangers  and 
hardships  suffered  by  their  men.  One  day  Col.  Dillingham 
obtained  a  small  tent  to  use  as  a  shelter  from  the  intense  sun 
light,  but  as  soon  as  it  was  raised  a  cannon  ball  carried  away 
the  top.  As  Capt.  Barstow' s  servant  stretched  forth  his  arm 
to  pass  his  master  a  cup  of  coffee,  it  was  shattered  by  a  bullet, 
and  the  captain  lost  his  drink. 

To  those  who  have  never  had  an  experience  of  army  life  in 
trenches,  the  subjoined  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by  Quar 
termaster  F.  E.  Smith  during  the  siege,  and  dated,  "  Before 
Port  Hudson,  June  27,  1863,"  will  be  an  interesting  revelation. 

"  Our  officers  and  men  lie  quietly  down  day  and  night,  week  after  week, 
with  hundreds  of  rifle  balls  whistling  within  a  few  feet,  often  a  few  inches, 
of  their  heads.  And  when  from  necessity  they  must  leave  their  posts, 
they  have  to  crawl  behind  logs  and  through  ditches  and  ravines  to  get  to 
the  woods  in  the  rear.  Perhaps  on  the  way  they  must  cross  a  knoll  or  a 
ridge  of  land,  when  — whist !  whist!  whiz-z-z  !  go  a  half  dozen  bullets  from 
sharpshooters,  who  are  constantly  watching  every  such  exposed  place. 
You  have  heard  of  the  boy  who  got  scared  in  the  graveyard,  and  did  not 
know  what  frightened  him,  but  thought  it  was  a  "fraid';  well,  I  saw  the 
same  thing  the  first  time  I  had  occasion  to  cross  those  [exposed]  places  ; 
and  now  when  I  think  of  going  to  the  front,  I.  imagine  I  can  see  a  "fraid,' 
and  conclude  not  to  try  it,  unless  for  some  very  urgent  reason.  I  have 
heard  a  great  deal  about  men  being  brave  and  not  afraid  of  any  danger.  I 
have  seen  many  truly  brave  men,  men  who  can  do  and  dare  anything,  if  it 
be  in  the  line  of  their  duty.  But  they  say  to  the  inexperienced  :  '  Do  n't  be 
idling  or  fooling  around  the  front,  unless  you  have  business  there  ;  for  it  is 
no  credit  to  you  and  does  the  army  no  good  for  you  to  be  shot  when  away 
from  your  post.  Let  every  man  do  his  business  and  go  where  he  is 
ordered;  for  the  real  test  of  a  man's  bravery  is  whether  he  will  do  his 
duty  wherever  it  lies.'  .... 


120  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

"  I  often  wonder  whether  our  friends  at  home  have  a  realizing  sense  of 
the  situation  of  affairs  here  in  camp.  I  hardly  think  they  do  —  in  fact,  I 
am  sure  they  cannot.  Let  me  tell  you.  The  men  of  this  command  have 
been  confined  for  more  than  a  month  to  the  ditches,  in  which  they  live, 
sleep,  eat,  and  fight.  In  front  are  enbankments  of  their  own  building,  on 
the  top  of  which  are  sand-bags  and  logs,  forming  loop-holes,  through  which 
they  watch  the  enemy,  and  shoot  at  the  sight  of  anything  that  moves. 
They  are  in  many  places  within  twenty  rods  of  the  earthworks  behind 
which  lie  the  enemy,  keeping  as  close  watch  of  us  as  we  do  of  them. 

"A  continued  roar  of  musketry  is  kept  up  on  both  sides,  while  the  bul 
lets  clip  the  leaves  and  branches  overhead  almost  constantly.  Along  a 
large  part  of  the  line  the  men  are  obliged  to  approach  the  trenches  crawl 
ing  on  their  hands  and  knees.  Here  too,  they  sleep,  if  they  sleep  at  all, 
in  such  an  inclined  position  that  morning  finds  them  several  feet  lower 
down  the  bank  than  when  they  laid  down.  If  the  night  be  ever  so  rainy, 
all  they  can  do  is  to  lie  or  stand  and  take  it.  When  the  ground  gets  very 
slippery,  so  that  they  slide  too  much,  they  must  drive  some  stakes  to  brace 
their  feet  against.  Many  of  the  men  have  dug  holes  in  the  bank  large 
enough  to  admit  their  bodies,  so  that  they  literally  live  in  caves  of  the  earth. 

"  The  cooking  has  to  be  done  half  or  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  the 
rear,  out  of  range  of  the  guns,  and  the  food  is  carried  in  by  cooks  and 
negroes. 

"  You  can  readily  imagine  that  the  men  are  of  necessity  very  dirty  and 
ragged,  for  their  clothes  soon  get  terribly  filthy,  or  wear  out.  So  much  is 
their  appearance  altered  that  you  would  recognize  but  few  of  the  men  or 
officers  of  the  old  Eighth.  Occasionally  a  few  get  out  and  stretch  their 
legs  and  get  washed,  and  those  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  possess  a 
change  of  shirt  put  on  a  clean  one.  I3ut  as  a  rule  the  poor  boys  are  un 
shaven,  their  hair  is  long  and  frequently  uncombed  for  a  week  or  more : 
and,  if  a  close  inspection  were  made,  it  might  surprise  their  wives  or  moth 
ers  to  find  vermin  living  on  their  heads  and  bodies. 

"Their  food  is,  of  course,  very  plain  and  very  poor.  The  water  they  get 
is  very  bad  even  for  this  country,  and  the  best  they  are  able  to  procure 
would  be  thought  unfit  for  cattle  in  Vermont.  Think  then  of  living  in  such 
a  place  week  after  week,  with  the  burning  southern  sun  pouring  down  upon 
you,  while  a  hundred  pieces  of  artillery  boom  around  you  night  and  day, 
not  to  mention  the  bursting  of  rebel  shells  in  your  very  bedroom,  and  the 
reports  of  ten  thousand  muskets  to  lull  you  to  sleep.  What  say  you  to 
this?  How  would  you  like  it?  Still,  this  is  the  actual  state  of  things,  only 
a  deep  shade  too  faintly  pictured 

"  Many  amusing  dialogues  occur  between  the  pickets  on  either  side,  who 
are  often  near  enough  to  hold  conversation.  A  '  reb  '  sings  out:  'Hello, 
Yank  !  Seen  anything  of  "  Yellow  Jack  "  yet  ?  He  '11  give  you  a  call  soon, 
over  there  in  the  swamps.' 


A    RECONNOISSANCE,  12 1 

"  '  No,  I  have  n't  seen  "  Yellow  Jack,"  but  I've  seen  "Yellow  Jane,"  and 
she  calls  every  day  or  two.  I  say,  Johnny,  what  do  you  have  to  eat  ? 
Have  you  any  whiskey?  Give  us  a  drink,'  replies  the  picket  in  blue. 

"'Oh,  plenty  to  eat  and  plenty  to  drink.  I'll  give  you  a  quart  of 
whiskey  for  a  pound  of  coffee.  What  ye  say,  Yank  ?' 

"  '  You  desert  and  come  out,'  answers  Yankee ;  4 1  '11  give  you  all  the 
coffee  you  want.' 

"  '  Don't  see  it,"  says  Johnny.  '  I  'd  be  a  great  fool  to  surrender  now, 
for  Johnston  will  be  here  in  three  or  four  days  with  twenty  thousand  men. 
Then  we  '11  have  you,  coffee  and  all.' 

"  *  Do  n't  count  your  chickens  before  they  are  hatched,  Johnny.  You  '11 
get  mighty  dry  before  you  get  coffee  that  way.  "  There  's  many  a  slip  'twixt 
cup  and  lip."  '  .  .  .  . 

"The  officers  and  men  of  your  acquaintance,  that  are  left,  are  all  well,  I 
believe.  Col.  Thomas  is  an  old  hero.  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham  is  O.  K.,  and 
as  good  as  the  best." 

After  two  weeks  had  been  spent  in  digging  and  fortifying, 
Gen.  Banks  ordered  a  night  reconnoissance  on  the  loth  of  June, 
in  order,  by  drawing  the  enemy's  fire,  to  locate  the  position  of 
their  artillery,  and  also  to  give  the  officers  a  chance  to  advance 
the  lines,  and  thereby  lessen  the  exposed  ground  in  front  of  the 
works,  across  which  the  troops  must  charge  under  a  galling  fire 
in  the  next  assault.  The  night  was  warm,  cloudy,  and  dark, 
and  about  midnight  the  order  was  given  to  fall  into  line,  while 
the  skirmishers  went  over  the  breastworks  and  waited  for  the 
'signal  to  move.  It  took  considerable  time  to  prepare  for  action, 
so  that  the  advance  was  not  begun  until  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  Then  the  skirmishers  marched  cautiously 
forward,  but  were  quickly  detected  by  the  enemy,  and  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry  was  opened  upon  them.  The  men  endured 
this  leaden  hail  for  a  while,  when  a  sudden  thunder-storm  burst 
over  the  scene,  and  for  a  brief  hour  the  firing  gave  way  before 
the  torrents  of  a  grateful  and  less  destructive  rain. 

When  the  storm-cloud  had  passed  hostilities  were  resumed, 
and  the  skirmishers  met  with  heavy  losses  as  they  moved  on 
in  execution  of  their  commands.  But  the  chief  object  of  the 
reconnoissance  was  not  accomplished,  because  the  enemy,  appar 
ently  comprehending  the  manoeuvre,  did  not  use  their  cannon  ; 
and  just  before  daybreak  the  troops  were  recalled. 


122  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

It  was  a  night  of  fruitless  endeavor  and  sad  experiences. 
Capt.  Barstow,  then  acting  adjutant  general,  being  the  only 
staff  officer  at  hand,  was  sent  with  a  message  to  the  commander 
of  the  skirmishers  belonging  to  Col.  Thomas's  brigade.  On  his 
return,  being  scarcely  able  to  see  his  way,  while  groping  along 
a  ravine,  he  suddenly  fell  over  a  man  lying  on  the  ground  appar 
ently  in  great  distress.  "What  are  you  doing  here?"  asked 
the  captain,  but  the  only  reply  was  a  faint  moan.  The  question 
was  repeated,  but  the  man  gave  no  other  answer  than  repeated 
moans.  Capt.  Barstow  then  touched  the  prostrate  form  with 
his  foot,  when  the  man  seized  one  of  his  hands  and  conveyed 
it  to  his  own  throat.  In  this  way  he  made  the  officer  aware 
that  he  had  been  shot  in  the  neck  and  could  not  speak.  Capt. 
Barstow  told  him  to  keep  up  courage,  and  promised  to  send 
men  to  his  assistance  from  headquarters ;  and  when  the  poor 
fellow  was  brought  in  he  proved  to  be  a  member  of  the  cap 
tain's  own  company. 

After  sunrise  there  was  another  armistice,  to  enable  the  dead 
and  wounded  to  be  removed  from  the  open  ground  between  the 
works ;  and  then  orders  came  to  be  ready  in  two  days  to  make  a 
second  grand  assault  on  the  main  works  of  the  enemy. 

During  the  forenoon  of  the  thirteenth  instant  there  was  a 
furious  bombardment  all  along  the  investing  lines,  to  which  the 
enemy  vigorously  responded.  Several  Confederate  guns  were 
dismounted  before  the  engagement  ceased,  and  when  the  fire 
began  to  lull  Gen.  Banks  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  Gen.  Frank 
Gardner,  commander  of  the  garrison,  demanding  its  surrender, 
which  was  refused. 

This  being  a  preliminary  movement,  the  firing  was  not 
resumed,  and  quiet  reigned  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  broken 
only  by  the  occasional  discharge  of  a  sharpshooter's  weapon. 
But  it  was  the  hush  that  precedes  the  storm,  the  pause  in  which 
the  champion  gathers  for  a  terrible  struggle  ;  and  to  many  an 
anxious  soldier  it  was  the  calmness  that  heralds  death. 


A    SUNDAY   FIGHT.'  123 


THE    SECOND    ASSAULT. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday.  But  the  soldier  at  the  front 
knows  no  Sabbath,  and  Gen.  Banks  issued  orders  on  that 
morning,  which  so  many  were  wont  to  associate  with  peaceful 
and  hallowed  thoughts,  that  the  army  should  make  another 
attempt  to  carry  the  works  by  general  assault. 

At  that  time  Col.  Thomas  lay  very  ill  in  the  hospital,  and  Col. 
Smith,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  New  York,  took  his 
place  as  commander  of  his  brigade.  Capt.  Barstow  was  adju 
tant  general,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham  led  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont.  The  order  was,  that,  on  going  into  action,  the  brigade 
column  should  consist  of  two  regiments  of  skirmishers,  followed 
by  one  regiment  with  hand  grenades,  the  next  with  cotton-bags 
with  which  to  fill  the  ditch  before  the  breastworks  ;  and 
three  regiments  were  to  bring  up  the  reir  as  an  assaulting 
party.  The  Eighth  Vermont  was  assigned  to  lead  the  assault 
ing  column. 

About  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i4th  the  troops 
were  served  with  coffee  and  light  rations,  and  two  hours  later 
the  lines  were  formed,  and  the  skirmishers  advanced  over  the 
earthworks  and  reached  the  open  spaces  in  front  of  the  para 
pets  before  the  east  began  to  redden  with  the  dawn. 

The  Confederates  were  on  the  alert,  and  the  movement  did 
not  escape  their  notice,  so  that  the  lines  had  scarcely  cleared 
their  trenches,  when  they  were  assailed  by  a  murderous  fire 
from  the  garrison.  The  air  was  filled  with  flying  minies  and 
grape,  that  sped  athwart  the  open  ground  on  their  errand  of 
death,  and  seemed  to  find  out  every  covert  and  penetrate  every 
avenue  of  approach.  So  terrible  and  deadly  was  this  fire  that 
the  cotton-bag  and  hand  grenade  regiments  could  not  proceed, 
and  failed  to  execute  their  commands,  and  all  seemed  about 
to  be  driven  back  in  hopeless  confusion.  At  this  critical  mo 
ment  the  Eighth  Vermont  was  ordered  to  move  to  the  charge 
by  the  flank  through  a  ravine.  Steadily  it  passed  into  position, 
and  rested  its  right  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  over  which  it  must 


124  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

advance.  With  difficulty  the  lines  moved  over  and  passed  the 
men  with  cotton-bags,  who  stood  huddled  together,  a  ready 
mark  for  the  enemy's  guns.  "  Forward,  Eighth  Vermont!" 
shouted  Adjt.  Spalding  from  the  head  of  the  column  ;  and  fell 
dead.  The  men  obeyed,  and  instantly  the  line  was  in  motion. 
But  in  less  than  five  minutes  sixty  noble  Green  Mountain  boys 
dropped  dead  or  wounded,  and  it  was  impossible  to  advance  in 
the  teeth  of  such  a  hurricane  of  shot  and  shell.  Again  and 
again  did  these  brave  fellows  face  the  terrible  fire  ;  but  advance 
was  instant  death,  and  a  shudder  of  horror  ran  through  the 
stoutest  hearts  at  sight  of  the  bloody  sacrifice.  They  fell  back 
under  cover  of  the  nearest  ravine,  reformed  the  column,  and 
tried  to  move  around  the  hill.  But  Col.  Smith  was  disabled  by 
a  mortal  wound,  and  the  command  passed  to  Lieut.  Van  Pat 
ten,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  who  ordered 
a  second  charge.  Some  went  around  the  hill  and  reached  the 
ditch,  while  a  few  touched  the  breastworks.  But  the  ground 
over  which  they  dashed  was  strewn  with  dead  and  wounded  ; 
all  that  human  effort  could  do  the  bfave  men  had  done  ;  and  as 
the  first  ruddy  dawn  mocked  the  bloody  ground  on  which 
their  slain  comrades  lay,  all  that  were  left  alive  retreated  to 
the  trenches  as  best  they  could.  Some  who  had  reached  posi 
tions  under  the  enemy's  parapets  could  not  get  back,  and  were 
obliged  to  protect  themselves  by  hugging  the  walls  or  crouching 
behind  cotton-bags  and  stumps  of  trees. 

All  that  hot  June  Sabbath  day  the  men  lay  there  in  plain 
sight — the  dead,  the  wounded,  the  unhurt,  together,  but  no 
help  could  reach  them,  for  the  enemy's  gunners  were  unusually 
active,  and  woe  to  the  rtian  who  showed  signs  of  life  on  the 
field,  and  the  pitying  comrade  who  ventured  forth  on  a  mission 
of  relief.  The  least  movement  drew  the  fire  of  a  score  of 
sharpshooters.  Many  who  lay  wounded  before  the  works  were 
killed  daring  the  day;  and  several  brave  men  who  set  out  to 
carry  relief  to  their  fallen  mates  were  ruthlessly  shot. 

The  Confederates  were  jubilant  over  this  successful  repulse 
of  the  investing  army.  The  strains  of  victory  were  sounded 
forth  by  drum  and  trumpet,  while  a  chorus  of  exultant  Johnnies 


COUNTING    THE    LOST.  125 

filled  the  air  with  "  Bonny  Blue  Flag,"  and  other  "  secesh  " 
songs. 

Far  different  was  it  in  the  silent  trenches,  where  the  defeated 
soldiers  counted  up  their  losses  and  talked  in  low,  sad  tones  of 
the  bloody  experience  of  the  morning. 

The  killed  and  wounded  belonging  to  the  Eighth  Regiment 
were  estimated  to  be  ninety-six.  The  names  of  the  killed  were  : 
In  Company  B,  Lieut.  Stephen  F.  Spalding,  Horace  D.  Ban 
croft,  George  W.  Brown,  Jason  C.  Farewell,  Wm.  S.  Lee ;  in 
Company  C,  Loren  F.  Kelley,  Wm.  T.  Pettee  ;  in  Company  D, 
Henry  J.  Thompson  ;  in  Company  E,  Corporal  Ira  Barrett, 
Wm.  Jones  (missing  since  that  date);  in  Company  G,  Corporals 
Henry  Coles  and  Joseph  Becotte,  George  Kendall,  Solon  Parker, 
Wm.  Johnston  ;  in  Company  H,  Henry  W.  Crocker  ;  in  Com 
pany  I,  Sergeant  Edward  R.  Pratt,  Henry  C.  Blashfield. 

Wagoner  Wesley  H.  Day,  of  Company  K,  and  Jason  Drury 
and  James  W.  Howard,  of  Company  E,  afterwards  died  of 
wounds  received  in  this  fight. 

The  wounded,  as  far  as  ascertained,  were,  in  Company  A, 
Jephaniah  Carpenter ;  in  Company  B,  Orderly  Sergt.  John 
Bisbee,  Sergt.  W.  H.  Spencer,  Sergt.  George  Collier,  Cor 
poral  C.  P.  Church,  C.  S.  Barrett,  John  R.  Dawson,  Joseph 
Baraby,  W.  H.  Henry,  John  Fox,  John  B.  Tucker,  Alfred 
Wells,  Charles  Wheeler ;  in  Company  C,  Sergt.  J.  A.  Ripley, 
Charles  E.  Hardy,  A.  Montrett,  J.  S.  Bailey,  R.  W.  Williams, 
H.  A.  Crane,  C.  E.  Dunton,  Martin  Rosebush,  L.  Swinger, 
George  H.  Haselton,  Levi  W.  Skinner,  J.  L.  Pettee ;  in  Com 
pany  E,  Lieut.  A.  J.  Sargent,  Capt.  Edward  Hall ;  in  Company 
F,  Corporals  Ezra  E.  Janes  and  Chas.  A.  McCluskey  ;  in  Com 
pany  G,  Lieut.  John  M.  Pike,  Corporal  D.  C.  Woodbury,  Francis 
S.  Hull,  Louis  Hoezle,  John  Sullivan,  Langdon  Kemp,  Fabin 
Dupias,  John  Davis;  in  Company  H,  Sergt.  George  M.  Allard, 
A.  O.  Evans;  in  Company  I,  Sergt.  A.  H.  Ward,  W.  W.  Saw 
yer,  Timothy  Sullivan,  Oscar  B.  Hescock ;  in  Company  K, 
Sergt.  Perry  Porter,  Jr.,  P.  P.  Shores,  John  E.  Woodsum.  June 
24th,  James  W.  Howard,  Charles  E.  L.  Hills,  Jason  Drury, 
Thomas  F.  Ferrin,  Company  E.  June  28th,  Jacob  Mills,  Jr., 


126  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Company  D.  July  3d,  Lorenzo  Robbins,  Company  D.  June 
25th,  Edward  White,  Company  D,  died  from  wounds  received 
on  the  i4th. 

In  this  connection  may  properly  be  mentioned  the  following 
privates,  who  were  killed  during  the  month  of  June,  on  the 
dates  indicated.  George  Renfrew,  Company  D,  3d  ;  Felix 
Marchand,  Company  C,  i/th;  Langdon  Kemp,  Company  G, 
iQth  ;  Samuel  O.  Horn,  Company  B,  2Oth. 

Lieut.  Pike,  of  Company  G,  and  Sergt.  Spencer,  of  Company 
B,  were  severely  wounded  in  this  assault ;  but  the  latter,  on  get 
ting  back  within  the  lines,  pluckily  remarked  :  "  I  'm  wounded  ; 
but  d — n  them,  I  '11  live  to  whip  them  yet !  "  Sergt.  Perry  Por 
ter,  Jr.,  of  Company  K,  was  wounded  early  in  the  charge,  lay  all 
day  on  the  field,  and  was  brought  in  at  night.  After  he  was 
down,  seeing  so  many  of  his  brave  regiment  falling  around  him, 
he  was  roused  to  try  what  a  crippled  man  could  do  to  help  them, 
and  crawling  up  behind  a  stump  he  raised  his  gun  to  fire,  when 
a  piece  of  shell  struck  and  doubled  it  back  upon  itself,  and 
threw  him  several  feet  away. 

The  death  of  Lieut.  Stephen  F.  Spalding  was  deeply  felt  by 
his  command  and  associate  officers,  for  he  was  much  beloved  as 
a  friend,  and  highly  esteemed  for  ability  and  military  skill.  He 
was  born  in  Montpelier,  Vt.,  June  25,  1840,  was  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Vermont,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  was  a  law  student  in  New  York  city.  In  less  than 
six  hours  after  the  assault  on  Fort  Sumter,  he  was  on  his  way 
to  Washington  as  a  volunteer  in  the  Seventh  New  York  Regi 
ment,  and  served  with  them  three  months.  When  his  term  of 
enlistment  expired  he  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  enlisted 
a  number  of  men  for  another  regiment,  and  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant.  But  being  called  to  Montpelier  by  the 
dangerous  illness  of  his  eldest  brother,  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  and  returned  to  the  study  of  law  in  Derby.  His  strong 
patriotism  would  not  permit  him  to  remain  at  home,  however, 
in  the  quiet  pursuits  of  civil  life,  and,  having  acquired  a  taste  for 
military  service,  he  was  active  in  recruiting  Company  B,  of  the 


Forbes  C( 


LIEUT.  STEPHEN  F.  SPALDING,  Co.  B. 


THE    FORLORN   HOPE.  12? 

Eighth  Vermont,  and  when  it  organized  was  chosen  first  lieu 
tenant.  On  reaching  Algiers  Capt.  C.  B.  Child  was  detailed 
as  provost  marshal,  leaving  Spalding  in  command  of  the  com 
pany.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he  became  acting  adjutant  of  his 
regiment. 

The  night  before  his  death  at  Port  Hudson,  Spalding 
remarked  to  a  friend  :  "  I  shall  be  at  the  head  of  my  regiment 
to-morrow ;  "  and  later,  as  if  some  premonition  of  fate  had  come 
to  him,  he  said  to  his  friend  Capt.  Barstow  :  "  I  shall  not  spend 
another  night  with  you."  Both  remarks  proved  true,  and  he 
was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  minie  ball,  and  fell  in  front  of  his 
men.  Lieut.  F.  E.  Smith  recovered  his  body,  had  it  forwarded 
to  New  Orleans  in  charge  of  George  W.  Fairfield,  of  Com 
pany  F,  who  delivered  it  to  Lieut.  Butterfield  to  be  sent  to  his 
friends.  After  his  death,  Lieut.  Geo.  N.  Carpenter  became 
acting  adjutant  of  the  regiment. 

In  spite  of  his  severe  illness,  Col.  Thomas  could  not  lie 
quietly  in  the  hospital  after  the  heavy  firing  began  on  that  fatal 
morning  of  June  I4th,  but,  disregarding  the  warnings  of  the 
surgeons,  ordered  his  horse  mounted  and  rode  to  the  front, 
arriving  just  after  his  gallant  regiment  had  fallen  back.  The 
officers  he  met  told  him  he  was  jeopardizing  his  life ;  and 
finally,  seeing  that  the  fight  was  over,  and  realizing  his  extreme 
weakness,  he  reluctantly  returned  to  his  bed. 

Two  days  after  this  terrible  Sunday  morning  fight  Gen. 
Banks  published  an  order  calling  for  a  volunteer  storming 
party  of  one  thousand  men  to  lead  another  assault.  This  was 
the  general's  "forlorn  hope,"  and  he  urged  the  call  with  all  the 
eloquence  he  could  summon,  but  there  was  no  enthusiastic 
response  from  the  lines.  Finally  a  camp  was  designated  where 
those  who  would  volunteer  could  be  specially  drilled  and  pre 
pared  for  the  difficult  charge.  The  number  was  not  raised,  how 
ever,  though  something  less  than  three  hundred  entered  the  lists, 
mostly  from  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  as  it  was  understood 
that  Col.  Birge  of  that  regiment  would  lead  them,  with  a  few 
from  the  Twelfth.  Col.  Thomas,  had  he  been  on  duty,  could  have 
led  the  entire  Eighth.  Vermont  to  this  assault  simply  by  asking 


128  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

them  ;  but  as  the  case  stood,  only  a  few  of  his  men  allowed  their 
names  to  be  enrolled  for  the  "  forlorn  hope,"  and  after  about  three 
weeks  the  project  was  abandoned.  The  names  of  those  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment  who  signified  a  willingness  to  serve,  as  far 
as  ascertained,  are  :  Capt.  John  L.  Bars  tow,  of  Company  K  ; 
Orderly  Sergt.  George  G.  Hutchins,  of  Company  E  ;  Corporal 
Abner  N.  Flint,  and  Privates  Lyman  P.  Luce  and  George  W. 
Coles,  of  Company  G  ;  George  H.  Ormsby,  of  Company  H. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June  Gen.  Banks  was  informed  that  the 
enemy  had  captured  a  wagon-train  in  the  rear,  and  Weitzel's 
division  was  ordered  to  leave  the  trenches  and  move  against  any 
Confederate  forces  found  hovering  around.  Accordingly  Col. 
Thomas  led  his  brigade  in  this  march,  though  scarcely  strong 
enough  to  sit  on  his  horse.  The  first  night  the  troops  camped 
in  line  of  battle,  amid  a  heavy  rain.  The  next  day  a  long,  tedious 
march  was  made,  without  discovering  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
third  day  the  division  returned  to  the  trenches. 

By  this  time  the  privations  and  exposures  of  the  protracted 
siege  began  to  tell  severely  on  the  troops.  The  work  of  mining 
had  been  begun,  in  addition  to  all  the  other  duties,  and  heat, 
malaria,  and  fatigue  combined  carried  a  large  number  of  officers 
and  men  into  the  hospital,  while  many  another  soldier,  not  sick 
enough  to  be  excused  from  service,  simply  dragged  himself  about 
because  he  must. 

All  this  while  there  had  been  no  regular  surgeon's  call  at  the 
front,  but  C.  M.  Ferrin,  the  hospital  steward,  attended  to 
the  wants  of  the  ailing  in  the  trenches.  And  to  his  credit 
it  should  be  recorded,  that  his  kind  and  skilful  care  saved 
many  a  soldier  from  severe  illness,  and  he  performed  a  noble 
service  by  his  brave  and  tireless  attentions  to  the  wounded  in 
times  of  battle. 

For  weeks  the  two  hostile  armies  faced  each  other  within 
hailing  distance,  and  the  rebels  watched  from  the  covert  of  their 
earthworks,  while  the  besiegers,  strongly  entrenched,  slowly 
laid  the  mines  which  as  a  last  resort  would  be  fired  beneath  the 
enemy's  walls.  Under  the  laws  of  warfare,  of  course,  no  inter- 


A    LIMITED    TRUCE.  129 

course  could  be  allowed  between  the  armies,  except  through  the 
mouths  of  shotted  guns,  or  officially  under  a  flag  of  truce.  But 
it  would  be  scarcely  human  for  one  body  of  men  to  be  thus  held 
close  prisoners  week  after  week  by  another  body  speaking  a 
common  language,  and  having  so  many  interests  in  common, 
and  no  attempt  be  made  by  the  former  to  get  news  from  the 
outside  world.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  therefore,  signals  were 
frequently  passed  between  the  privates  of  the  two  lines,  and  the 
blue  and  the  gray  would  pass  over  the  fortifications  and  hold  a 
friendly  chat  on  neutral  ground.  Referring  to  this  practice, 
Maj.  Wickham  Hoffman,  of  Gen.  Banks's  staff,  in  his  interesting 
volume  entitled,  "  Camp  and  Court  Siege,"  writes  : 

"  It  was  curious  to  observe  the  sort  of  entente  cordiale  which  the  sol 
diers  on  both  sides  established  during  the  seige.  When  they  were  tired  of 
trying  to  pick  each  other  off  through  the  loop-holes,  one  of  them  would  tie 
a  white  handkerchief  to  his  bayonet  and  wave  it  above  the  parapet. 
Pretty  soon  a  handkerchief,  or  its  equivalent  —  for  the  rebs  did  not  indulge 
in  useless  luxuries —  would  be  seen  waving  on  the  other  side.  This  meant 
truce.  In  a  moment  the  men  would  swarm  out  on  both  sides,  sitting  with 
their  legs  dangling  over  the  parapet,  chaffing  each  other,  and  sometimes 
with  pretty  rough  wit.  They  were  as  safe  as  if  a  regular  flag  were  out. 
No  man  dared  to  violate  this  tacit  truce.  If  he  had  done  so,  his  own  com 
rades  would  have  dealt  roughly  with  him.  After  a  while,  on  one  side  or 
the  other,  some  one  would  cry  out,  '  Get  under  cover  now,  Johnny/  or 
4  Look  out  now,  Yank ;  we  are  going  to  fire,'  and  the  fire  would  recom 
mence." 

"While  in  the  rifle-pits  during  the  siege,"  says  a  comrade, 
"  we  were  constantly  on  the  watch  for  a  chance  to  make  a  sharp 
shot  at  anything  which  might  appear  inside  the  Confederate 
lines.  Directly  in  front  of  the  position  occupied  by  Company 
B,  but  nearly  over  to  the  river,  was  a  large  round  tent  standing 
by  itself,  but  so  far  off  and  so  situated,  that  with  the  naked  eye 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  see  if  it  was  occupied,  the  opening 
being  on  the  side.  Corporal  W.  E.  Halladay,  of  Company  B, 
had  a  small  telescope,  with  which  he  used  to  amuse  himself  by 
watching  anything  which  might  attract  his  attention  inside  the 
enemy's  lines.  One  day  while  in  the  pit  with  Samuel  O.  Horn, 
a  movement  at  the  opening  of  the  tent  attracted  his  attention, 
9. 


130  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

and  he  remarked  to  Horn  that  a  man  was  standing  just  inside 
the  tent  at  the  opening,  and  described  to  him  the  exact  position. 
Horn,  who  was  a  good  shot,  immediately  sighted  his  Enfield 
rifle  to  the  highest  notch,  and  aiming  at  thfc  part  of  the  tent 
indicated,  asked  Halladay  to  tell  him  if  the  man  made  his 
appearance  again.  After  waiting  a  few  minutes  the  man  came 
and  stood  in  the  same  place  where  first  seen,  holding  the  flap  of 
the  tent  back  with  his  hand.  At  the  word  Horn  fired,  and  in 
a  very  few  seconds  afterwards  the  flap  of  the  tent  suddenly 
closed.  We  never  learned  if  the  shot  took  effect  on  the  man  at 
whom  it  was  fired,  but  in  the  course  of  fifteen  or  twenty  min 
utes  an  ambulance  displaying  the  hospital  flag  drove  up  to  the 
tent,  thus  advertising  that  some  one  got  hurt. 

"  Being  under  fire  night  and  day  for  so  long  a  time  as  we 
were  at  Port  Hudson,  some  of  the  boys  became  reckless,  and 
exposed  themselves  unnecessarily.  In  digging  our  rifle-pits,  we 
would  dig  a  trench  up  the  side,  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  then  run 
off  to  the  right  and  left,  throwing  the  dirt  to  the  rear.  This 
formed  a  bank  on  which  a  man  sitting  would  show  his  head  and 
about  half  of  the  body.  On  the  morning  of  Jjune  2Oth,  Samuel 
O.  Horn  and  Edward  Belville,  after  coming  off  duty,  and  having 
had  a  wash  and  their  rations,  went  back  into  the  pit  without 
their  equipments  and  in  their  shirt  sleeves.  After  being  there 
a  short  time  talking  with  C.  D.  House,  who  was  on  duty,  both 
sat  down  on  the  earth  bank  in  the  rear,  with  their  feet  and  legs 
hanging  into  the  pit.  Their  white  shirts  made  a  conspicuous 
mark,  which  was  soon  seen  by  a  Confederate  sharpshooter,  who 
sent  a  ball  whizzing  close  by  their  heads.  Horn  immediately 
called  out :  '  You  are  no  s  >rt  of  a  shot !  You  couldn't  hit  the 
broad  side  of  a  barn.  Try  again.'  Apparently  the  same  man 
did  try,  as  soon  as  he  could  reload,  and  sent  the  bullet  to  the 
centre,  of  Horn's  forehead,  killing  him  instantly.  After  this 
Belville  was  less  reckless  of  unnecessary  exposure,  but  met  his 
fate  in  a  singular  manner." 

Among  the  multitude  of  accidents  and  experiences  met  with 
during  the  protracted  siege,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  on  the 
I4th,  Win.  H.  Henry,  of  Company  B,  turned  his  head  to  sight 


A     QUEER    CORN-MILL.  131 

his  rifle,  when  a  ball  struck  his  left  cheek,  plowed  into  the  bone, 
and  came  out  through  his  ear,  while  at  the  same  time  a  buck 
shot  struck  him  in  the  neck. 

A  few  days  later  a  canteen  was  seen  lying  on  the  flat  land  in 
front  of  the  trenches,  and  several  comrades,  who  had  not  parted 
with  all  their  boyish  recklessness,  asked  who  dared  to  run  out 
and  get  it.  Charles  A.  Dean,  a  young  member  of  Company  H, 
accepted  the  challenge,  and  got  safely  back  with  the  trophy, 
though  one  of  the  Confederate  shots,  sent  after  him,  cut  a  hole 
through  the  tin.  While  holding  conversation  with  the  Johnnies 
under  a  flag  of  truce,  one  day,  Commissary  Sergt.  Lewis  Child 
and  three  comrades  climbed  over  the  enemy's  works,  and  were 
busily  talking,  when  a  Confederate  officer  came  along,  and 
ordered  them  "to  get  out  or  be  shot." 

So  complete  was  the  investment  of  Port  Hudson,  that  it  was 
utterly  impossible  for  Gen.  Gardner  and  his  army  to  hold  any 
communication  with  the  outside  world,  or  convey  any  supplies 
within  their  stronghold.  Consequently,  the  stock  of  provisions 
became  so  much  reduced  by  the  last  of  June,  that  the  garrison 
were  obliged  to  subsist  on  a  small  allowance  of  corn-meal,  and 
an  occasional  ration  of  mule  meat.  Even  this  meal  was 
obtained  and  prepared  with  great  difficulty,  for  lack  of  a  grist 
mill.  They  had  a  small  portable  mill,  but  no  power,  and  to 
supply  this  they  resorted  to  a  curious  device.  There  was  within 
the  garrison  a  small  locomotive,  which  the  ingenious  Johnnies 
raised  up  on  blocks,  so  that  the  driving-wheel  would  clear  the 
rails.  Round  one  of  these  was  passed  the  belt  of  the  corn-mill, 
and  after  the  engineer  had  'rgot  up  steam,"  he  was  able  in  this 
way  to  furnish  meal  at  the  rate  of  several  miles  an  hour. 
Probably  this  rude  contrivance  enabled  the  garrison  to  postpone 
the  inevitable  surrender  for  some  days. 

During  this  interim  in  the  trenches  several  promotions  were 
made,  as  follows  :  June  nth,  Maj.  L.  M.  Grout  resigned  on 
account  of  ill  health,  and  Capt.  H.  F.  Button,  Company  H, 
was  promoted  to  major ;  Sec.  Lieut.  S.  E.  Howard,  Company 
H,  first  lieutenant  ;  First  Lieut.  A.  B.  Franklin,  Company  H, 
captain;  June  I5th,  Sec.  Lieut.  F.  D.  Butterfield,  Company 


132  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

B,  first  lieutenant ;  Orderly  Sergt.  John  Bisbee,  second  lieuten 
ant ;  July  ist,  Sec.  Lieut.  Geo.  O.  Ford,  Company  K,  first 
lieutenant. 

•    • 

On  the  morning  of  July  4th  Gen.  Banks  ordered  that  the 
national  salute  be  fired  all  along  the  line  with  shotted  guns, 
and  Admiral  Farragut  issued  a  similar  order  to  the  upper  and 
lower  fleets  stationed  in  the  river.  Three  days  later,  on  the 
7th  instant,  came  the  cheering  report  that  Vicksburg  had  sur 
rendered  to  Gen.  Grant  ;  and  as  the  message  passed  along  the 
lines,  the  troops  hailed  it  with  such  loud  and  hearty  shouts  of 
joy  that  the  Confederates  knew  that  some  important  event  had 
taken  place,  and  called  out,  "What's  the  news,  Yanks?"  and 
soon  the  Port  Hudson  garrison  knew  that  another  stronghold 
of  the  enemy  had  fallen. 

THE    SURRENDER. 

Early  next  morning  white  flags  were  displayed  above  the 
invested  works,  and  Gen.  Gardner  sent  a  messenger  under  a 
truce  to  inquire  if  the  news  of  the  Vicksburg  surrender  was 
official,  and  Gen.  Banks  returned  answer  that  it  was  captured 
on  the  4th.  This  was  soon  followed  by  a  second  message  from 
the  commander  of  the  works,  stating  that  he  had  appointed 
three  commissioners  to  confer  with  three  officers,  whom 
Gen.  Banks  would  detail,  and  arrange  terms  of  capitulation. 
This  was  cheering  news  indeed,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours  the  details  of  the  surrender  were  completed,  and  the 
garrison  that  had  defied  the  Union  army  for  forty-two  days, 
voluntarily  opened  its  arms  to  receive  them. 

This  event,  following  so  closely  upon  the  receipt  of  the  news 
that  Vicksburg  had  fallen,  was  very  naturally  construed  at  the 
time  to  have  been  a  direct  consequence  of  that  disheartening 
intelligence.  But  while  the  inevitable  result  might  hive  been 
hastened  a  day  or  two  on  that  account,  subsequent  evidence 
fully  confirms  Gen.  Gardner's  assertion  that  it  was  a  different 
motive  that  decided  him  to  surrender.  The  simple  fact  was 


ENTERING    THE     WORKS.  133 

that  he  could  defend  the  place  no  longer ;  and  after  the  sur 
render  he  plainly  told  Gen.  Banks  that  his  garrison  had  scarcely 
anything  to  eat ;  and  when  he  saw  preparations  going  on  for 
another  assault,  knowing  that  the  mines  were  laid  beneath  his 
works,  he  determined  to  save  further  bloodshed  by  honorable 
concession. 

It  is  a  question,  too,  how  much  longer  Gen.  Banks  could 
have  maintained  the  siege  without  reinforcements.  For  at  that 
time  the  army  had  been  greatly  reduced,  and  he  was  in  immi 
nent  danger  of  being  attacked  in  the  rear  by  Confederate 
forces  collected  from  the  surrounding  country.  In  describing 
his  condition  Capt.  de  Forrest,  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut, 
writes:  "On  the  day  of  the  surrender  Gen.  Banks  had  ten 
thousand  four  hundred  men  for  duty,  to  watch  and  fight  over  a 
line  nearly  eight  miles  in  extent.  Our  [the  Union]  forces  had 
lost  at  least  four  thousand  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  nearly  as 
many  more  rendered  unserviceable  by  sickness." 

At  the  same  time  Gen.  Gardner  was  not  an  easy  foe  to  con 
quer.  He  was  strongly  fortified  and  made  an  able  and  vigorous 
defence  of  Port  Hudson,  so  that  the  reduction  of  the  works  was 
a  severe  test  of  endurance  and  skill,  whether  the  investing 
army  accomplished  the  end  by  siege  or  by  assault. 

On  the  morning  of  July  Qth  the  Union  columns  marched  into 
Port  Hudson  and  halted  in  front  of  the  Confederate  garrison, 
which  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  Gen.  Gardner  gave  them 
his  last  order  to  ground  arms,  the  Confederate  flags  were 
pulled  down,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  rose  in  triumph,  amid 
the  exultant  cheers  of  the  victors.  The  surrender  included 
between  six  thousand  and  seven  thousand  men,  with  their  arms 
and  the  armament  of  the  works. 

When  Port  Hudson  fell,  the  last  Confederate  defence  on  the 
Mississippi  was  removed,  and  a  free  water-way  was  opened  from 
Cairo  to  the  Gulf.  It  divided  the  Confederacy  and  cut  off  from 
their  armies  on  the  east  side  the  supplies  from  the  west,  on 
which  they  had  so  long  subsisted.  It  was  the  severest  blow  yet 
struck  at  the  enemy  ;  and  the  successive  victories  of  Mead  at 
Gettysburg,  Grant  at  Vicksburg,  and  Banks  at  Port  Hudson, 


134  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

were  a  message  of  despair  to  secession,  renewed  hope  to  the 
loyal  North,  and  courage  to  the  Union  armies  in  the  field. 

While  all  the  available  forces  of  Gen.  Banks  had  been  drawn 
from  other  points  for  the  investment  of  Port  Hudson,  "Dick" 
Taylor  had  opportunity  to  collect  his  scattered  army  and  ravage 
the  country  from  which  he  had  been  so  lately  driven,  without 
check  or  hindrance.  And  he  improved  his  chance  to  descend 
upon  the  Teche,  capture  Brashear  City  and  Bayou  Boeuf,  and  the 
sick,  with  the  heavy  baggage  and  valuable  papers  left  at  the 
former  place  by  the  Eighth  Vermont,  fell  into  his  hands.  Col. 
Thomas's  fine  horse,  which  was  so  much  admired,  was  there 
also,  in  charge  of  Private  Parkhurst,  of  Company  G,  and  was 
taken  by  the  enemy.  After  that  Taylor  reoccupied  the  La 
Fourche  country. 

It  would  seem  that  Texan  soldiers  had  not  kept  posted  on 
the  subject  of  improved  electrical  machinery,  for  Taylor's  book 
says  that  when  he  made  this  capture  at  Brashear  City,  "the 
sight  of  such  quantities  of  '  loot '  quite  upset  my  hungry  fol 
lowers.  Wandering  through  the  station  and  warehouse  filled 
with  stores,  a  Texan  came  upon  a  telegraphic  instrument  click 
ing  away  in  response  to  one  down  the  line.  Supposing  this  to 
be  some  infernal  machine  for  our  destruction,  he  determined  to 
save  his  friends  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  and  smashed  the 
instrument  with  his  heavy  boots,  then  rushed  among  his 
comrades,  exclaiming  :  '  Boys  !  they  is  trying  to  blow  us  up. 
I  seen  the  triggers  a-working,  but  I  busted  'em.'  " 

On  the  evening  after  the  formal  surrender,  Gen.  Weitzel's 
division,  including  the  Eighth  Vermont,  took  boats  and  pro 
ceeded  down  the  river  to  Donaldsonville,  where  the  Confeder 
ate  soldiers  had  appeared  in  force  and  were  placing  cannon 
along  the  bank  in  order  to  interrupt  communication  with  New 
Orleans. 

INCIDENTS    OF   THE    SIEGE. 

Every  survivor  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  will  remember  with 
gratitude  Quartermaster  Sergeant  W.  H.  Gilmore,  whose 
prompt  energy  in  forwarding  his  wagons  saved  them  so  many 


SHA  RPSHOOTERS.  1 3  5 

times  from  going  hungry.  One  incident  of  his  army  experi 
ence  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  is  worthy  of  mention  in 
this  connection.  On  the  loth  of  June  he  set  out  for  Baton 
Rouge  to  order  supplies,  and  while  making  his  way  alone 
through  a  long  stretch  of  woods,  he  was  suddenly  surprised  by 
three  mounted  Confederates,  armed  with  shot  guns.  So  near 
were  they  when  he  discovered  them  that  escape  was  impossible 
and  resistance  useless,  and  he  suffered  himself  to  be  captured 
and  disarmed.  The  guards  proceeded  with  him  to  Clinton, 
which  they  reached  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  he 
was  informed  that  he  would  be  sent  next  morning  to  Richmond. 
But  before  they  got  away  from  the  place  a  body  of  Federal 
cavalry,  which  was  skirmishing  in  the  neighborhood,  approached 
so  near  that  it  was  feared  that  Gilmore  and  a  few  other  prison 
ers  would  be  rescued  ;  so  they  were  paroled,  after  promising  to 
make  their  way  to  New  Orleans.  But  in  the  course  of  the  next 
two  days  the  faithful  sergeant  got  within  the  lines  again  at 
Port  Hudson,  and  reported  to  Gen.  Banks. 

A  remarkable  artillery  shot  was  made  one  morning  by  Capt. 
Bainbridge.  Seeing  the  enemy  open  fire  with  a  piece  they  had 
mounted  during  the  previous  night,  he  brought  one  of  the  guns 
of  his  battery  to  bear  upon  it,  and  fired  a  charge  that  struck  it 
directly  in  the  muzzle  and  exploded,  dismounting  the  piece  and 
rendering  it  useless. 

So  alert  were  the  Confederate  sharpshooters  during  this 
investment,  that  it  was  difficult  to  get  a  sight  of  the  works,  even 
through  the  most  guarded  loop-hole,  without  being  exposed  to 
fire.  And  one  day  Gen.  Banks  himself  had  a  narrow  escape 
from  death,  while  taking  a  stealthy  survey.  He  went  into  the 
stockade  and  clapped  his  eye  to  a  small  lookout,  and  then  for 
some  reason  turned  away.  Immediately  a  negro  who  stood 
near  by  put  his  eye  up  to  the  same  peep-hole,  and  was  shot 
dead. 

A  singular  illustration  of  the  power  of  imagination  was  dis 
covered  at  one  time  by  Hospital  Steward  Ferrin.  He  was 
hastily  called  to  a  man  who  lay  groaning  on  the  ground,  who 
declared  that  his  foot  had  been  completely  shattered  by  a  ball. 


136  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

The  steward  removed  his  shoe  and  stocking,  and  found  the 
pedal  extremity  perfectly  sound  —  the  ball  had  struck  his  shoe 
and  glanced  off. 

Port  Hudson  was  the  first  of  the  great  batrtes  of  the  war  in 
which  the  Eighth  Vermont  had  taken  part,  and  their  behavior 
won  for  them  and  their  commander  the  admiration  and  praise 
of  all  who  were  competent  judges  of  the  situation.  The  gen 
eral  in  command  of  the  brigade  said  in  his  official  report  :  "  I. 
would  not  do  justice  to  my  convictions  of  duty,  did  I  fail  to 
mention  Col.  Thomas  for  his  coolness  and  gallantry  at  all 
times;"  and  gave  a  full  account  of  the  endurance  and  heroic 
deeds  of  the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  this  regiment,  dur 
ing  that  protracted  investment. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Pollard  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Com 
pany  I,  July  1 2th;  and  Orderly  Sergt.  John  Bisbee,  of  Com 
pany  B,  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  July  i5th. 


VI. 


BAYOU    TECHE    AGAIN. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  of  July  loth,  Weitzel's  division  reached 
Donaldsonville  on  the  steamer  Laurel  Hill,  and  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  went  into  camp  near  the  landing.  No  engagement  took 
place  that  day,  although  there  was  some  firing  along  the  picket 
lines  ;.  but  the  next  afternoon  the  regiment  was  '  suddenly 
ordered  to  "fall  in  "  and  move  on  the  double-quick  to  the  front, 
for  the  advance  of  the  other  troops  had  been  checked  by  the 
enemy.  The  battle  lasted  but  a  short  time,  however,  and  the 
Eighth  was  held  in  reserve.  But  in  a  counter  charge  the 
Confederates  captured  a  few  Federal  prisoners  and  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  retreated  during  the.  night.  The  entire  divi 
sion  pursued  them  the  next  morning,  and  the  Confederates  hur 
ried  to  Berwick  bay  and  crossed  before  the  Union  gunboats 
could  intercept  them. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  then  marched  beyond  Thibocleaux  and 
went  into  camp  for  the  first  time  since  April  Qth.  In  memory 
of  the  brave  adjutant  general  of  the  brigade  who  fell  at  Port 
Hudson  on  the  2/th  of  May,  Gen.  VVeitzel  named  this  place 
Camp  Hubbard  ;  and  there  for  a  space  they  enjoyed  the  rest  so 
much  needed  after  the  long,  exhausting  campaign.  There  the 
evening  dress  parades  made  it  sadly  apparent  that  the  ranks 
had  become  greatly  reduced.  All  the  companies  had  suffered 
great  losses,  while  some  had  left  not  more  than  a  dozen  pri 
vates,  and  not  a  single  commissioned  officer.  Members  of  the 
regiment  were  buried  from  every  camp  between  New  Orleans 


138  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

and  Alexandria.  Some  died,  buried  in  the  Teche ;  many  had 
fallen  at  Port  Hudson  ;  a  large  number  were  sick  in  the  hospi 
tals  ;  another  small  portion  had  been  discharged  on  account  of 
disability  ;  while  a  few  had  gone  Northern  furloughs.  Among 
those  absent  were  Col.  Thomas,  who  was  ordered  North  on  sick 
leave,  and  Capt.  Barstow,  who  was  much  debilitated  and  unfit 
for  duty. 

Such  being  the  condition  of  the  companies,  the  future 
efficiency  of  the  regiment  made  it  imperative  that  they  should 
be  recruited.  Accordingly,  on  the  I5th  of  August,  an  order 
was  given  for  a  detail  to  proceed  at  once  to  Vermont  and  secure 
new  men  for  the  service.  The  following  were  selected  for  this 
duty  :  Capt.  C.  B.  Leach,  of  Company  D  ;  Lieut,  and  acting 
Adjt.  George  N.  Carpenter  of  Company  C  ;  Lieut.  A.  K.  Cooper, 
of  Company  A ;  Sergt.  W.  H.  Spencer,  of  Company  C  ;  Sergt. 
Charles  R.  Wills,  of  Company  G  ;  Corp.  F.  R.  Carpenter,  of 
Company  F  ;  Corp.  H.  R.  Brown,  of  Company  H  ;  Corp.  W.  J. 
Parker,  of  Company  I  ;  Corp.  Ezra  S.  Pierce,  of  Company  K. 
They  left  immediately  for  New  Orleans,  took  a  boat  for  Cairo, 
111.,  and  thence  proceeded  by  rail  to  Brattleboro,  and  reported 
to  Maj.  Austin,  the  provost  marshal. 

A  few  days  after  their  arrival  in  Vermont,  Lieut.  Carpenter 
was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Devons  in  Boston  harbor,  where 
he  remained  a  while  on  duty,  and  was  then  sent  to  Norfolk 
and  Alexandria,  Va.,  in  charge  of  conscripts  to  the  Vermont 
regiments  belonging  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  returned 
to  his  own  regiment  the  following  December.  Capt.  Leach  and 
the  rest  of  the  detail  remained  on  duty  in  the  state  until  the 
necessary  recruits  we're  assigned,  and  returned  to  the  regiment 
in  Louisiana. 

When  this  detail  left  Camp  Hubbard,  Lieut.  L.  M.  Hutchin- 
son,  of  Company  A,  was  made  acting  adjutant  in  place  of 
Lieut.  Carpenter. 

On  the  1 5th  of  August  Capt.  Henry  E.  Foster,  of  Com 
pany  C,  resigned  and  retired  from  the  army  on  account  of  disa 
bility  and  ill  health.  He  was  a  man  well  adapted  to  military 
life.  His  company  had  been  raised  largely  through  his  own 


Albertypc:  Forbes  Co.,  Boston. 


LIEUT.  COL.  CHARLES  DILLINGHAM. 


DETAIL    DUTY.  139 

personal  influence,  and  he  was  active  and  faithful  in  looking 
out  for  the  interests  of  the  men  under  his  charge.  He  was  a 
brave  soldier  and  a  good  disciplinarian.  After  the  railroad  had 
been  repaired  and  opened  from  Algiers  to  Brashear  City,  Capt. 
Foster  became  the  military  superintendent,  and  filled  the  posi 
tion  with  marked  ability.  Lieut.  Geo.  N.  Carpenter  was  pro 
moted  to  the  vacant  captaincy,  on  the  same  day. 

September  ist,  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham  was  ordered  to  proceed 
with  the  regiment  to  Algiers,  and  there  embark  on  a  steamer  to 
join  an  expedition  against  Sabine  Pass  on  the  Texas  coast. 
Gen.  Franklin  commanded  the  troops,  and  anchored  opposite 
the  pass,  but  did  not  land,  because  the  gun-boats  were  unable  to 
reduce  the  forts.  But  Gen.  Weitzel  begged  to  be  allowed  to 
take  the  Eighth  Vermont,  with  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  and 
Twenty-sixth  Massachusetts,  and  charge  the  enemy's  works. 
But  his  request  was  refused,  and  the  troops  returned  to  Algiers 
on  the  I  ith  instant. 

During  the  last  of  November  a  second  detail  for  recruiting 
service  was  ordered  to  report  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  which  con 
sisted  of  Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Dillingham  ;  Lieut,  and  acting 
Quartermaster  S.  E.  Howard ;  Sergt.  Ezra  H.  Brown,  of  Com 
pany  A ;  Sergt.  George  Collier,  of  Company  B  ;  Sergt.  John  A. 
Ripley,  of  Company  C  ;  Sergt.  Edward  F.  Gould,  of  Company 
D  ;  Sergt.  Chas.  R.  Wills,  of  Company  G ;  Sergt.  Geo.  G. 
Hutchins,  of  Company  E  ;  Sergt.  Joseph  N.  Dunton,  of  Com 
pany  H  ;  Sergt.  Francis  E.  Warren,  of  Company  I  ;  Sergt. 
Charles  Cheney,  of  Company  K  ;  Sergt.  Wm.  T.  Church,  of 
Company  F. 

Col.  Dillingham  did  not  serve  on  this  detail  for  reasons  indi 
cated  below,  and  Lieut.  Howard,  consequently,  took  it  in  charge, 
and  started  at  once  for  the  North. 

On  the  1 2th  day  of  December,  Lieut.  Col.  Dillingham  resigned, 
Maj.  H.  F.  Dutton  was  promoted  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  Capt. 
John  L.  Barstow,  of  Company  K,  was  made  major. 

Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Dillingham,  son  of  ex-Gov.  Paul  Dilling 
ham,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Newbury  and  Barre,  Ver 
mont,  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  mercantile  houses  in 


140  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Waterbury,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  Minnesota,  and  then  studied 
law  in  his  father's  office,  and  was  nearly  ready  for  admission  to 
the  bar  when  the  war  broke  out.  He  raised  the  first  company 
of  three-years'  men  in  the  state,  but  was  obliged  to  disband 
because  the  governor  had  no  authority  to  accept  them.  He 
then  recruited  Company  D,  of  the  Second  Regiment,  was 
elected  captain,  and  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  where 
he  participated  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  com 
missioned  as  major  in  the  Eighth,  was  promoted  to  be  second 
lieutenant  colonel,  and  commanded  the  regiment  at  the  siege  of 
Port  Hudson.  Col.  Dillingham  was  a  brave  and  efficient  offi 
cer,  who  not  only  distinguished  himself  on  the  field,  but  as  an 
able  counsellor  on  military  commissions. 

The  following  promotions  were  made  during  the  fall  of  1863, 
as  indicated  :  O.  E.  Ross,  appointed  assistant  surgeon,  Sept. 
i/th;  Sec.  Lieut.  W.  H.  Smith,  Company  F,  first  lieutenant, 
Oct.  ist ;  S.  W.  Shattuck,  appointed  adjutant,  Oct.  2Oth  ;  First 
Lieut.  H.  M.  Pollard,  Company  I,  captain,  Nov.  /th,  vice  Capt. 
W.  W.  Lynde,  resigned ;  Sec.  Lieut.  John  Bisbee,  Company  B, 
first  lieutenant,  Nov.  /th  ;  Sec.  Lieut.  Geo.  E.  Selleck,  Com 
pany  I,  first  lieutenant,  Nov.  /th  ;  First  Lieut.  F.  D.  Butter- 
field,  Company  B,  captain,  Nov.  /th  ;  Com.  Sergt.  Lewis  Child, 
first  lieutenant,  Company  C,  Dec.  6th  ;  Sec.  Lieut.  A.  J.  Sar 
gent,  Company  E,  first  lieutenant,  Dec.  I2th  ;  Maj.  H.  F.  Dut- 
ton,  lieutenant  colonel,  Dec.  28th  ;  First  Lieut.  Geo.  O.  Ford, 
Company  K,  captain,  Dec.  28th  ;  Capt.  J.  L.  Barstow,  Company 
K,  major,  Dec.  28th. 

The  following  from  the  Eighth  Vermont  were  promoted  to 
U.  S.  colored  regiments  ;  Wm.  Noyes,  Company  C,  captain  ; 
P.  J.  Noyes,  Company  C,  lieutenant  ;  Lewis  Titus,  Company  C, 
lieutenant  ;  H.  C.  Abbott,  Company  C,  captain,  Second  Louisi 
ana  Regiment ;  Lucius  C.  Herrick,  Company  G,  was  discharged 
to  accept  a  commission  as  assistant  surgeon  of  another  regiment. 

Quartermaster  Fred  E.  Smith,  whose  name  occurs  so  fre 
quently  in  the  earlier  history  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  in  connec 
tion  with  a  record  of  honorable  service,  had  some  experience  in 
militarv  affairs  before  the  time  when  the  regiment  was  raised. 


Late  Quartermaster  8th   Vt. 


NEW    IBERIA.  141 

He  assisted  in  raising  the  Sixth,  and  in  November,  1861,  Gov. 
Fairbanks  sent  him  to  the  Potomac  to  settle  the  accounts  of 
the  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  Regiments,  which  were  unclosed 
when  they  left  the  state.  Before  his  return  he  received  a 
telegram  from  Col.  Thomas,  tendering  him  the  quartermas- 
tership  of  the  Eighth,  and  on  reaching  Vermont  he  set  about 
his  new  duties  immediately.  In  this  position  he  had  a  wide 
field  for  the  display  of  executive  and  business  qualities  which 
have  characterized  his  whole  career ;  and  it  was  these  which 
attracted  the  notice  of  his  superior  officers,  and  gained  him  a 
promotion  whi:h  was  equally  complimentary  to  his  personal 
ability  and  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged. 

After  serving  faithfully  under  Col.  Thomas,  Gen.  Weitzel 
adopted  him  into  his  own  military  family,  appointing  him  on 
his  staff,  as  acting  commissary  of  subsistence.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  in  the  different  engagements  in  Louisiana, 
beginning  at  Labadieville  and  ending  with  the  surrender  of 
Port  Hudson.  It  was  a  great  and  merited  tribute  of  praise, 
when  Col.  Thomas,  while  acting  brigadier  commander,  remarked 
of  Lieut.  Smith  :  "  I  have  the  best  quartermaster  in  the  United 
States  army." 

September  i/th,  the  Eighth  Vermont  led  the  brigade  by  easy 
marches  along  a  familiar  route.  There  was  a  day's  halt  at 
Franklin,  and  they  passed  on  through  New  Iberia  and  Opelousas 
to  Carrion  Crow  bayou,  *  where  they  went  into  camp  for  a  few 
days.  Here  the  enemy,  which  had  thus  far  retired  before  the 
advance  of  the  brigade,  made  a  stand  in  considerable  force,  and 
a  strong  picket-line  was  necessary  to  guard  against  surprises. 
November  /th  there  was  some  sharp  skirmishing,  but  no 
general  engagement  took  place,  and  on  the  i6th  the  troops  were 
ordered  to  fall  back  to  New  Iberia,  and  there  establish  a  posi 
tion  which  would  be  stronger  for  defence. 

An  incident  not  likely  to  be  forgotten  was  a  splendid  dash 
of  Barrett's  cavalry  on  about  six  hundred  mounted  Texans. 


*  The  name  "  Carrion  Crow  bayou  "  was  given  to  this  stream  on  account  of  the  former  resi 
dence  upon  its  banks  of  a  gentleman  named  Carron  Cro. 


142  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

That  troop  of  horse  was  one  of  the  finest  in  the  Union 
army  and  was  greatly  admired,  and  the  Green  Mountain 
infantry,  in  camp  at  New  Iberia,  witnessed  the  rout  of  the 
Texans  with  a  great  deal  of  satisfaction. 

At  this  place  complaints  of  foraging  were  made  at  head 
quarters,  though  Col.  Thomas,  with  his  usual  caution,  would 
warn  his  men,  whenever  the  sight  of  sleek  cattle  or  sheep 
attracted  their  hungry  eyes :  "  Now  do  n't  let  me  see  you  touch 
one  of  those  animals  !  "  And  it  is  not  to  be  presumed  that 
he  ever  did  see  any  of  his  faithful  boys  appropriate  to  their  own 
use  the  innocent  live-stock  of  peaceful  citizens. 

When  Gen.  Franklin  was  in  command,  however,  complaint 
was  made  to  him  that  some  of  Weitzel's  men  were  stealing  from 
the  adjacent  plantations.  The  members  of  the  Eighth  Vermont 
were  Weitzel's  men  at  that  time,  and,  convinced  that  a  high 
standard  of  integrity  prevailed  throughout  his  brigade,  Weitzel, 
to  whom  the  complaint  was  referred,  said  he  had  given  his  men 
permission  to  purchase  what  they  needed,  but  had  forbidden 
theft,  and  did  not  believe  they  would  steal.  At  that  moment  a 
cavalry-man  brought  in  two  privates  of  the  Eighth  Vermont, 
Edward  Price  and  Henry  Roseblade,  who  were  charged  with 
stealing  geese. 

"  Here  is  a  clear  case,"  said  Gen.  Franklin. 

"  I  think  not,"  answered  Gen.  Weitzel  ;  and  looking  round  at 
the  men  he  added  :  "  You  bought  the  geese,  did  n't  you  ?" 

The  accused  were  not  so  stupid  as  to  answer  in  the  negative, 
and  were  acquitted,  although  Gen.  Franklin  appeared  not  to  be 
entirely  satisfied  with  the  result,  and  keot  a  sharp  lookout  for 
the  next  case.  It  came  soon  after,  for  the  same  "  Ed  "  Price, 
in  company  with  E.  S.  Pierce,  of  Company  K,  had  an  interesting 
adventure  in  a  watermelon  field.  The  owner  of  the  melons  sat 
under  the  shade  of  a  tent,  gun  in  hand,  guarding  his  precious 
fruit.  But  the  two  Yankee  boys  took  him  by  surprise,  made  him 
drop  his  weapon,  go  to  the  field  and  pick  a  liberal  supply  of  the 
ripest  melons,  and  carry  them  far  enough  towards  the  camp  to 
be  out  of  reach  of  his  gun.  Then  they  released  him,  and  brought 
in  their  booty. 


RE-ENLISTING.  143 

The  next  day  the  two  foragers  chanced  to  be  detailed  for 
guard  duty,  and  while  at  their  posts  the  melon  man  appeared, 
and  made  loud  complaint  of  the  ill  usage  he  had  received.  The 
first  step  toward  redress  was,  of  course,  to  identify  the  thieves, 
and  Pierce  was  ordered  to  show  the  man  round  the  camp.  It 
did  not  occur  to  the  planter  that  either  of  the  guard  could  be 
the  guilty  parties,  and  he  did  not  inspect  them  ;  nor,  after  look 
ing  around -to  his  heart's  content,  was  he  able  to  find  the  men 
he  sought ;  consequently,  as  a  lawyer  would  say,  he  had  no  case, 
and  the  two  offenders  were  relieved  to  see  him  take  his 
departure. 

Foraging  is  a  prolific  topic,  and  it  would  be  easy  to  cover 
many  valuable  pages  with  transcripts  of  the  amusing  stories  of 
personal  adventure,  so  well  told  by  comrades  Herbert  E.  Hill, 
Charles  A.  Dean,  and  others,  who  came  near  being  captured  by 
guerillas  while  engaged  in  a  laudable  search  for  mutton,  fowl, 
and  other  desirable  means  of  army  subsistence. 

A    VETERAN    REGIMENT. 

This  camp,  which  was  retained  until  the  following  January, 
will  be  remembered  as  the  scene  of  some  very  important  changes 
in  the  Eighth  Vermont,  which  at  that  time  had  passed  nearly 
its  full  term  of  volunteer  service  in  the  field. 

The  year  of  1864  opened  with  the  severest  weather  the  regi 
ment  had  experienced  since  landing  at  Ship  Island.  A  cold 
north  wind,  with  continuous  rain  and  sleet,  caused  much  suffer 
ing  on  picket  lines  as  well  as  in  camp,  for  the  men  had  no 
means  of  protecting  themselves  against  such  unusual  weather. 
The  ground  was  frozen,  ice  formed  on  the  water,  and  snow- 
flakes  often  filled  the  air. 

But  the  discomforts  of  this  inhospitable  storm  did  not  chill 
the  warm  patriotism  of  those  long-tried  descendants  of  Ethan 
Allen's  plucky  campaigners.  An  order,  issued  on  the  25th 
of  June,  was  received  from  the  war  department  for  raising 
a  veteran  regiment,  and,  on  the  5th  day  of  January,  three 
hundred  and  twenty-one  brave  veterans  faced  the  chances  of 


144  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

a  still  more  rigorous  and  exacting  service,  and  signed  papers 
of  re-enlistment  for  another  three  years.  This  was  a  crucial  test 
of  loyalty.  There  was  no  element  of  novelty  or  romance  to 
lure  them  on  ;  no  spell  of  Northern  enthusiasm  tempered  the 
inclement  atmosphere  ;  no  offer  of  rich  bounty  dazzled  them. 
These  men  knew  what  the  service  exacted  ;  the  privations  and 
horrors  of  war  were  all  familiar  to  them  ;  they  had  every  rea 
son  to  believe  that  the  future  struggle  with  the  giant  Rebellion 
would  be  more  severe  and  sanguinary  than  the  past. 

When  the  news  of  this  re-enlistment  was  communicated  to 
Gen.  Emory,  who  commanded  the  division  at  that  time,  he  issued 
a  special  order,  commending  the  zeal  of  the  Eighth  Vermont, 
and  caused  it  to  be  read  to  all  the  troops  at  the  evening  parade. 

The  Eighth  was  the  second  from  Vermont  to  re-enlist,  and 
thus  become  a  veteran  regiment.  The  number  of  veterans  from 
each  company  was  as  follows  :  A,  42  ;  B,  31  ;  C,  29  ;  D,  34 ;  E, 
22  ;  F,  32  ;  G,  32  ;  H,  32  ;  I,  39  ;  K,  25  ;  making  a  total  of  318 
privates,  to  which  were  added  three  non-comissioned  staff, 
besides  the  commissioned  officers  who  signified  an  intention  to 
remain  in  the  service. 

In  this  connection  Capt.  McFarland,  of  Company  A,  furnishes 
this  interesting  statement  :  Fourteen  men  re-enlisted  out  of 
the  seventeen  who  originally  enlisted  under  him  from  his  home 
in  Waterville,  Vt.  One  died  in  the  service  ;  one  was  promoted, 
and  one  discharged  for  disability;  so  that  they  were  all 
accounted  for. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  the  camp  was  moved  to  Franklin, 
where  very  comfortable  quarters  were  secured  near  the  town, 
and  where  the  regiment  remained  for  two  months.  During  the 
month  of  February  the  second  detail,  that  had  gone  home  for 
recruiting  service  in  Vermont,  returned  with  three  hundred 
fresh  men,  accompanied  by  Col.  Thomas,  who  had  regained  his 
health  and  returned  to  the  command  of  his  gallant  regiment. 
He  had  sailed  from  New  York  in  the  Cahawba,  which  had  on 
board  a  number  of  deserters  taken  from  Blackwell's  Island,  to 
be  returned  to  their  regiments.  One  characteristic  incident  on 


A     WHISKEY  FIEND.  145 

this  voyage  is  narrated  by  Lieut.  Howard,  of  the  recruiting  de 
tail,  which  will  bear  repeating. 

The  deserters  contrived  to  smuggle  a  cask  of  whiskey  on 
board  and  secrete  it,  and,  having  imbibed  freely  during  the  first 
night  out,  they  became  quarrelsome  and  indulged  in  a  rough 
fight,  during  which  several  men  were  badly  cut  or  shot.  A 
faithful  search  was  made  for  the  whiskey,  but  it  could  not  be 
found.  But  it  was  evident  that  one  of  the  sailors  knew  some 
thing  about  it,  and  the  captain  of  the  vessel  questioned  him 
sharply.  The  tar,  however,  refused  to  tell  what  he  knew,  and 
no  threats  or  coaxing  could  wring  the  secret  from  him.  At  this 
juncture  Col.  Thomas  sent  to  have  the  sailor  brought  before 
him,  and,  in  the  presence  of  three  or  four  others,  talked  to  him 
in  a  way  that  made  him  quail.  "And  now,"  added  the  Colonel, 
"  I  '11  give  you  just  five  minutes  to  tell  where  that  whiskey  is, 
or" — here  he  interjected  a  Jacksonian  expression  of  great 
emphasis — "  I  '11  hang  you  at  the  yard-arm  !"  Then  requesting 
one  of  those  present  to  "  time  "  him,  not  another  word  was 
spoken.  For  three  minutes  Jack  Tar  stood  there  under  the 
piercing  gaze  of  the  Colonel,  but  at  the  end  of  that  space  he 
broke  down,  and  confessed  that  it  was  in  the  coal  bunkers.  A 
court-martial  was  then  convened,  and  the  trial  of  the  offenders 
lasted  during  the  remainder  of  the  voyage. 

Col.  Thomas  had  not  been  many  days  at  Franklin  when  he 
was  ordered  to  New  Orleans  to  testify  before  a  military  com 
mission.  By  some  means  the  colored  people  of  Algiers  learned 
that  their  old  "  Massa  Colonel  "  was  near  by,  and  they  gathered 
in  great  numbers  at  the  ferry  landing  to  see  him  on  his  return. 
As  he  stepped  from  the  boat  he  was  thronged  with  negroes, 
who  blockaded  his  path,  shook  his  hands,  and  greeted  him 
with  the  heartiest  demonstrations  of  joy.  Col.  Thomas  was 
touched  by  this  exhibition  of  genuine  affection,  and  talked  to 
the  people  as  they  came  surging  around  him,  giving  them  good 
advice  about  their  behavior  as  freedmen.  In  closing  be  said  : 
"  Now  I  am  going  back  to  the  regiment,  and  may  never  see  you 
again  ;  for  very  soon  we  shall  go  into  battle,  and  I  may  be 
killed." 


146  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Here  his  utterance  was  interrupted  by  a  loud  exclamation 
from  an  old  negro,  who  seized  his  hand  and  cried  :  "  No,  no, 
Massa  Thomas,  you  won't  be  killed,  sah  J,  Every  time  we 
prays,  we  tell  de  good  Lor'  to  keep  Massa  Thomas  in  the  hollah 
of  his  han'.  God  won't  let  you  be  killed."  This  was  uttered 
with  a  fervor  that  left  no  doubt  of  his  sincerity  ;  and  as  soon  as 
he  could  make  himself  heard,  another  aged  negro  added :  "  De 
good  kurnel  is  sent  down  heah  to  deliber  us.  Don't  ye  know 
when  Pharaoh  druv  the  Israelites  inter  de  Red  Sea,  how  God 
sent  Moses  down  dere  to  git  'em  out  agin  ?  Jes'  so  he  send 
de  ol'  kurnel  down  heah  to  deliber  us  out  uv  bondage." 

During  this  period  of  quiet  camp  life  a  number  of  promotions 
were  made,  as  follows :  Edward  Dewey,  appointed  quarter 
master,  Jan.  1 2th  ;  Sergt.  William  H.  Spencer,  Company  B, 
second  lieutenant,  Feb.  2Oth  ;  Sergt.  John  A.  Ripley,  Company 
C,  second  lieutenant,  Feb.  2Oth  ;  Sergt.  Nathaniel  Robie,  Com 
pany  D,  second  lieutenant,  Feb.  2Oth ;  Sergt.  Joseph  N.  Dutton, 
Company  H,  second  lieutenant,  Feb.  2Oth  ;  William  K.  Crosby, 
Company  C,  first  lieutenant  Louisiana  Volunteers. 

ON    A     FURLOUGH. 

In  accordance  with  the  orders  of  the  war  department,  grant 
ing  a  furlough  of  thirty  days  at  home  to  members  of  regiments 
who  re-enlisted,  the  troops  received  word  about  the  first  of 
March  to  go  to  Algiers  and  prepare  the  muster  rolls  for  their 
speedy  departure.  A  steamer  was  provided  for  their  trans 
portation,  and  on  the 'seventh  instant  the  lines  were  formed 
and  the  rest  of  the  Second  Brigade  escorted  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  on  board,  and  sent  them  off  with  cheers  and  hearty 
good  wishes.  They  remained  at  Algiers  four  weeks,  during 
which  time  the  veterans  signed  the  new  rolls  of  enlistment,  and 
were  formally  sworn  into  the  service  for  three  years,  by  the 
United  States  mustering  officer.  Then  came  the  welcome 
paymaster,  who  replenished  their  empty  pockets  with  Uncle 
Sam's  legal  tender,  and  on  the  ;th  of  April  the  veterans  went 
on  board  the  steamer  Constitution,  bound  for  New  York.  The 


THIRTY   DAYS    AT   HOME.  147 

Ninth  Connecticut,  also  on  a  veteran  furlough,  bore  them 
company. 

A  pleasant  passage  of  nine  days  brought  the  two  veteran 
regiments  to  New  York,  and  they  reached  New  Haven  by  a 
Sound  boat  late  in  the  afternoon,  where  the  citizens  gave  their 
returned  sons  a  grand  reception  and  banquet,  and  insisted  that 
their  Green  Mountain  companions  in  arms  should  share  the 
honor  and  hospitality.  Hurrying  on  again  by  special  train,  the 
gallant  Eighth  reached  Montpelier  on  the  evening  of  April  i6th, 
where  their  friends  and  the  citizens  welcomed  them  in  the 
most  cordial  manner,  and  the  congratulations  and  feasting  were 
prolonged  into  the  early  hours  of  the  morning,  which  was  Sun 
day.  During  that  day  the  regiment  went  through  the  usual 
weekly  inspection  by  the  company  officers,  and  a  dress  parade 
in  the  evening,  which  was  witnessed  by  a  large  concourse  of  cit 
izens.  On  Monday  they  were  furloughed  for  thirty  days,  with 
orders  to  report  at  Brattleboro  at  the  expiration  of  that  time. 

After  the  departure  of  the  veterans,  the  remainder  of  the 
regiment,  together  with  the  recruits  (in  all  567  men),  occupied 
the  old  camp  at  Algiers  under  command  of  Maj.  J.  L.  Barstow, 
and,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  Col.  Thomas,  they  were  at 
once  placed  under  stringent  discipline.  Every  detail  of  guard- 
mounting,  dress  parade,  guard  and  police  duty,  and  company 
and  regimental  drill,  was  rigorously  insisted  on,  with  particular 
attention  to  rapid  loading  and  target  practice.  The  sick  were 
tenderly  and  skilfully  treated  by  Asst.  Surgeon  O.  E.  Ross. 

With  no  details  for  detached  service,  the  recruits  were  rapidly 
gaining  in  proficiency,  but  the  Confederates  were  at  their  old 
tricks.  Brashear  City  had  been  strongly  fortified,  and  redoubts 
had  been  thrown  up  at  La  Fourche  and  garrisoned.  The  rebel 
cavalry  also  made  frequent  dashes  upon  points  between  and 
adjacent  to  these  places,  and  the  Eighth  was  not  to  remain  in  a 
quiet  camp.  On  the  6th  of  May,  Maj.  Barstow  was  ordered  by 
Gen.  J.  J.  Reynolds,  commander  of  the  defences  of  New  Orleans, 
to  proceed  at  once  with  his  force  to  La  Fourche  Crossing,  and 
report  to  Col.  Day  of  the  Ninetieth  New  York.  A  private 
note  from  headquarters  at  the  same  time  informed  him  that 


148  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

news  had  just  been  received  that  rebel  cavalry  to  the  number  of 
several  hundred  were  at  Napoleonville,  preparing  for  a  descent 
upon  Thibodeaux  and  the  railroad.  At  six^P.  M.,  therefore,  a 
train  was  ready,  and  Boutee  station  was  reached  at  dark,  where 
it  was  found  that  the  train  due  from  Brashear  City  had  not 
arrived,  and  that  the  wires  had  been  cut  each  side  of  the  sta 
tion.  The  train,  however,  proceeded  with  great  caution,  the 
engineer  being  placed  under  guards,  who  were  ordered  to  shoot 
him  upon  the  least  appearance  of  treachery  or  disobedience. 
La  Fourche  was  reached  at  midnight,  and  the  men  were 
marched  up  the  river  through  Thibodeaux  and  camped  in  the 
suburbs.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  the  next  night  word  was 
brought  to  the  major  by  Col.  Day's  adjutant,  that  a  scout  had  just 
arrived  with  information  that  a  force  of  Confederate  cavalry  was 
en  route  for  the  place,  and  that  an  attack  was  certain  to  be  made 
before  morning  ;  also  that  Col.  Day  had  left  for  Brashear  City, 
and  the  command  of  the  post  consequently  devolved  upon 
him.  In  addition  to  the  Eighth  Vermont,  the  garrison  con 
sisted  of  two  companies  of  Scott's  Nine  Hundred,  and  one 
company  of  Maryland  cavalry,  one  section  of  a  Connecticut 
battery,  and  two  companies  of  infantry  at  the  redoubts.  Every 
man  was  instantly  ordered  into  line,  and  all  preparations  made 
to  resist  the  expected  attack.  As  Maj.  Barstow  had  no 
mounted  staff,  Quartermaster  Edward  Dewey,  of  Montpelier, 
and  Assistant  Surgeon  Ross,  volunteered  to  act  in  that  capac 
ity,  and  were  on  duty  during  the  night,  riding  to  the  outer  cav 
alry  picket  with  orders,  and  performing  all  the  duties  of  aids. 
Soon  after  midnight  firing  was  heard  at  the  picket-posts,  and 
at  the  same  time  an  incendiary  fire  was  kindled  in  an  unoc 
cupied  house  in  the  village,  the  light  of  which  disclosed  the 
position  of  the  troops.  This  was  a  preconcerted  signal  by  a 
resident,  and  gave  notice  to  the  approaching  column  that 
surprise  was  impossible  that  night,  and  the  Confederate  force 
retired.  Two  days  later  heavy  reinforcements  arrived,  and 
further  apprehension  of  danger  was  dissipated.  Thereafter, 
drill  and  instruction  were  sadly  interfered  with  by  heavy  details 
for  guard  duty  upon  the  railroad. 


DID    NOT   KNOW   HIM.  149 

While  the  veterans  were  home  on  a  furlough,  shortly  after 
re-enlisting,  and  the  balance  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  with  the 
new  recruits  were  in  camp  at  Thibodeaux,  a  planter  near  by  lost 
some  mules,  and  jumped  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Yankee 
soldiers  had  stolen  them.  Into  the  camp  he  came,  one  morn 
ing,  and  in  a  towering  rage  addressed  the  officer  in  command 
and  charged  the  men  with  theft.  The  commander  treated  him 
in  a  kindly  manner,  and  by  adroit  courtesy  so  quieted  and 
mollified  the  wrath  of  the  old  man,  that  he  accepted  an  invita 
tion  to  stay  to  dinner. 

In  the  headquarters  mess  was  a  young  officer,  who  had 
imbibed  too  freely  of  the  ardent,  and  who,  on  being  introduced 
to  the  planter,  asked,  "Where,  sir,  have  I  met  you?  Your 
face  is  very  familiar."  The  stranger  disclaimed  any  previous 
acquaintance,  but  the  officer  was  confident  and  persisted  :  "Must 
"  'ave  seen  ye  b'fore  !  —  face  very  familiar."  Again  the 
planter  denied  having  met  him,  but  in  a  few  moments  the 
young  man  repeated  his  assertion.  This  was  pressing  a  point 
too  far  for  the  dignity  of  a  southern  gentleman,  and,  drawing 
himself  up  at  full  height,  the  planter  silenced  the  aggressive 
youth  with  the  haughty  remark  :  "  I  certainly  have  not  met  you 
before,  unless  you  are  one  of  the  party  that  stole  my  mules." 

On  the  24th  of  May  Maj.  Barstow  was  ordered  by  Gen. 
Banks  to  proceed  to  New  Orleans  and  thence  to  Vermont 
with  all  the  original  members  of  the  regiment,  who  did  not 
re-enlist,  to  be  mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of 
service.  The  major  replied,  asking  to  be  excused  from  the  per 
formance  of  this  duty,  as  he  wished  to  remain  with  the  recruits 
until  Col.  Thomas  returned.  He  also  mentioned  two  experi 
enced  captains,  Leach  and  Foster,  either  of  whom  was  per 
fectly  capable  of  taking  care  of  the  men.  But  Gen.  Banks 
refused  to  grant  his  request,  whereupon  the  major  again  wrote, 
stating  that  his  absence  would  leave  over  three  hundred  recruits 
with  no  officer  above  the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  charge  of  them, 
and  again  asking  to  be  allowed  to  remain.  The  response  was 
an  order  detailing  the  major  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Illinois  Infan- 


150  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

try  to  take  command  of  the  recruits,  and  peremptory  directions 
from  Gen.  Reynolds  to  carry  out  the  first  order.  In  accordance 
therewith,  this  portion  of  the  regiment  arrivgd  at  New  Orleans 
on  the  6th  of  June,  and,  after  a  brief  interview  with  the 
veterans,  who  had  just  returned,  they  sailed  on  the  Daniel 
Webster  for  New  York,  and  arrived  at  Brattleboro  on  the 
1 5th  instant.  They  were  mustered  out  of  service  June  22, 
1864. 

Maj.  John  L.  Barstow,  who  quitted  the  army  with  this  part 
of  his  regiment,  had  won  a  splendid  record.  He  entered  the 
service  as  quartermaster  sergeant,  but  before  his  regiment  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  he  was  promoted  to 
adjutant.  Then  he  became  captain  of  Company  K,  and  was 
acting  adjutant  general  under  Col.  Thomas.  Finally  he  was 
commissioned  major.  He  had  participated  in  all  the  engage 
ments  in  which  his  regiment  took  part,  and  was  acting  adjutant 
general  of  the  brigade  at  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson.  As  a 
brave  and  competent  officer  he  had  won  the  confidence  of  his 
superiors,  and  been  complimented  for  eminent  service  in  the 
field.  As  a  commander  he  enforced  military  discipline  every 
where,  by  example  as  well  as  by  precept,  and  above  all  by  the 
noble  manhood  with  which  nature  had  endowed  him. 

Maj.  Barstow  carried  with  him  into  private  life  the  tender 
regard  of  his  comrades,  who  in  token  of  their  esteem  presented 
him  a  beautiful  sword  and  belt  just  as  he  was  about  to  leave 
New  Orleans  for  his  home.  On  accepting  this  tribute  the 
major  remarked  that  he  regarded  it  the  highest  compliment  he 
could  receive,  since  it  was  a  gift  from  those  who  had  served 
under  him  in  the  field. 

On  the  i Qth  of  May  the  furloughs  of  the  veteran  regiment 
expired,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  Canadians  who  had 
repented  their  oath  and  skipped  across  the  line,  all  reported  at 
Brattleboro,  and  returned  to  New  Orleans  June  3d.  Eight 
days  later  they  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  Morganzia  and  join 
the  forces  concentrated  there  after  the  disastrous  Red  River 
campaign.  Here  they  suffered  from  the  intense  heat,  but  their 


MAJOR  JOHN  L.   BARSTOW, 


REVIEWED    BY   SICKLES.  151 

duties  were  light,  and  though  the  enemy  hovered  around  in  con 
siderable  numbers,  they  did  not  offer  battle.  On  the  nth  of 
June  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  to  which  the  regiment  belonged, 
was  reviewed  by  Gen.  W.  H.  Emory,  and  on  the  I2th  the  regi 
ment  went  down  the  river  about  twenty  miles  to  capture  or  dis 
perse  the  guerillas  infesting  that  region ;  but  they  fled  at  the 
approach  of  the  Union  troops,  and  the  regiment  returned  to 
camp. 

On  the  I4th  instant  Maj.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  inspector  gen 
eral  of  the  U.  S.  A.,  visited  Morganzia  and  reviewed  all  the 
troops.  He  was  given  a  very  enthusiastic  reception  ;  for  the 
crutches  borne  by  his  orderly  spoke  eloquently  of  his  gallant 
services  and  personal  sacrifices  in  the  Union  cause. 

On  the  iQth,  about  midnight,  the  first  division  went  on 
board  transports,  and,  with  an  escort  of  gunboats,  proceeded  up 
the  river  to  Tunica  Bend,  where  the  Confederates  were 
reported  to  be  massed  in  considerable  force.  On  landing,  Col. 
Thomas  ordered  his  regiment  to  divide  into  small  scouting 
parties,  which  he  sent  in  different  directions. 

One  squad  of  half  a  dozen  men,  including  Herbert  E.  Hill,  of 
Company  I,  and  Herbert  Butler,  of  Company  H,  climbed  a  high 
point  called  Tunica  Mount,  and  while  ascending  were  suddenly 
startled  by  a  shot  which  cut  Butler's  clothing.  This  was 
quickly  followed  by  a  second.  But  no  enemy  was  in  sight,  and 
when  the  party  had  gained  the  top  by  passing  round  on  the 
other  side,  they  found  a  deserted  signal  station,  from  which 
they  concluded  that  the  rebels  had  fired  upon  them  and  then 
escaped.  The  height  commanded  a  magnificent  view  of  the 
Mississippi  for  miles  up  and  down,  which  well  repaid  the  boys 
for  the  toil  of  climbing.  On  the  return  they  discovered  a  man 
trying  to  set  fire  to  a  bridge  across  which  the  Federal  cavalry 
had  ridden,  for  the  purpose,  it  was  presumed,  of  cutting  off  their 
retreat.  He  was  captured  and  brought  before  Col.  Thomas,  who 
compelled  him  to  confess  what  he  knew  that  might  prove  ser 
viceable  to  the  Union  cause. 

At  dark  the  several  scouting  parties  returned  on  board  the 
boats,  and  were  landed  again  at  Fort  Adams,  Miss.,  the  next 


152  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

forenoon,  where  they  again  scoured  the  country,  without  finding 
any  trace  of  a  hostile  force  ;  and  the  regiment  returned  to  Mor- 
ganzia  the  next  day  and  went  into  camp. 

During  the  last  days  of  June  the  camp  wa*s  full  of  rumors 
that  something  was  about  to  happen.  It  is  usual  for  experi 
enced  soldiers  to  have  an  intuitive  presentiment  of  important 
campaigns  or  battles  in  which  they  are  to  participate.  This 
may  possibly  be  due  in  a  measure  to  an  unusual  activity  notice 
able  at  headquarters,  the  going  and  coming  of  orderlies  and 
messengers,  and  the  ominous  silence  of  officers  when  questioned 
concerning  the  future  movements  of  the  troops.  In  this 
instance  suspicion  ripened  into  certainty  when  the  order  came 
to  prepare  three  days'  cooked  rations.  They  were  sure  then 
that  a  grand  movement  would  soon  follow  ;  but  where,  not  even 
the  wisest  old  campaigner  was  able  to  predict. 

July  26th,  Capt.  John  B.  Mead,  of  Company  G,  was  promoted 
to  the  vacancy  made  by  Maj.  Barstow's  discharge.  The  latter, 
along  with  Capt.  D.  S.  Foster,  Company  F,  and  Capt.  C.  B. 
Leach,  Company  D,  was  mustered  out  June  22d.  Capt.  Geo.  N. 
Carpenter,  Company  C,  was  discharged  to  be  mustered  as  cap 
tain  and  commissary  of  subsistence  United  States  Volunteers. 

The  changes  that  had  recently  occurred  in  the  several  com 
panies  required  the  promotion  of  a  number  of  deserving  men 
to  higher  rank ;  and  on  the  26th  of  July  the  following  commis 
sions  were  issued :  First  Lieut.  S.  E.  Howard,  Company  H, 
captain  of  Company  C  ;  First  Lieut.  Alfred  E.  Getchell,  Com 
pany  D,  captain  ;  First  Lieut.  W.  H.  Smith,  Company  F,  cap 
tain  ;  First  Lieut.  John  M.  Pike,  Company  G,  captain  ;  Sec 
ond  Lieut.  Edward  F.  Gould,  Company  D,  first  lieutenant. 

GOING    NORTH. 

July  2cl  the  regiment  was  again  ordered  to  break  camp  and  go 
aboard  the  waiting  transports,  and  the  next  day  they  reached 
Algiers.  Remaining  here  until  the  morning  of  the  fifth,  the 
men  were  ordered  aboard  the  ocean  steamer  St.  Mary,  and 
were  carried  down  the  river  under  sealed  orders.  This  meant 


WEITZEL'S    PARTING.  153 

farewell  to  Louisiana  ;  and  after  passing  over  the  bar  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  Col.  Thomas  opened  the  packet  and  found 
their  point  of  destination  to  be  Fortress  Monroe.  The  captain 
of  the  St.  Mary  declared  that  his  vessel  was  not  seaworthy, 
and  protested  against  attempting  the  voyage.  But  Col. 
Thomas,  who  had  never  learned  to  disobey  orders,  firmly 
insisted,  and  left  the  timid  seaman  no  choice. 

Fine  weather  insured  a  safe  passage,  but  the  regiment  had 
a  sad  experience.  Herbert  Butler,  of  Company  H,  died  on 
board,  and  his  comrades  lost  in  him  a  noble  boy  and  brave 
soldier.  He  had  been  ill  for  some  time  before  the  regiment 
started,  but  insisted  on  going  North  with  his  company.  When 
he  realized  that  his  end  was  near,  he  called  his  intimates  around 
him  and  begged  that  his  body  should  not  be  committed  to  the 
sea,  but  should  be  sent  home  to  his  mother.  This,  his  last 
request,  was  executed. 

On  leaving  Louisiana  the  regiment  parted  with  Gen.  Weitzelr 
to  whom  the  men  had  become  greatly  attached,  and  entered 
another  command,  while  he  was  ordered  to  Virginia.  His 
brigade  formed  in  line,  and  as  he  rode  in  front  of  them  for  the 
last  time,  gave  him  hearty,  though  sad,  parting  cheers.  The  fol 
lowing  tribute  to  his  character  and  worth  is  contributed  by 
Quartermaster  Fred.  E.  Smith,  of  Gen.  Weitzel's  staff : 

Godfrey  Weitzel,  long  known  and  much  respected  as  the  first 
commander  of  Weitzel's  Reserve  Brigade,  was  lieutenant  of 
engineers  in  the  regular  army,  and,  March  loth,  was  appointed 
chief  engineer  on  Gen.  Butler's  staff.  On  arriving  at  New 
Orleans  he  was  made  assistant  military  commandant,  and  was 
acting  major  of  the  city.  August  25th,  he  was  made  superin 
tendent  of  exchange  of  prisoners.  In  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties  both  before  and  during  the  war  he  had  become  so 
familiar  with  the  topography  of  the  state  of  Louisiana  and  the 
fortifications  of  the  Mississippi,  that,  when  he  was  commis 
sioned  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  it  was  fitting  that  he 
should  take  command  of  the  first  brigade  organized  for  active 
service  in  the  field,  in  the  department  of  the  Gulf. 


154  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  to  be 
long  connected  with  Gen.  Weitzel's  brigade,  and  both  officers 
and  men  learned  to  esteem  him  highly  for  his  personal  qualities 
and  military  knowledge.  His  kindliness  of  heart  won  their  love  ; 
his  ability  and  skilful  management  gained  their  confidence ; 
his  careful  provision  for  their  wants  and  comfort  inspired  their 
trust  in  his  sagacity  and  prudence.  So  much  did  both  officers 
and  men  come  to  rely  on  their  young  commander,  that  it  was  a 
common  remark  that  the  Eighth  Vermont  were  always  ready  to 
follow  wherever  he  led.  Throughout  the  marches  and  skirmishes 
of  the  La  Fourche,  the  Teche,  the  Attakapas,  and  the  Red 
River  campaigns,  Weitzel's  commands  were  readily  accepted, 
and  met  with  a  prompt  and  cheerful  obedience  from  the  Green 
Mountain  boys  who  served  under  him.  It  would  be  easy  to 
recall  many  instances  in  which  comrades  of  these  companies 
received  his  compliments  and  hearty  thanks  for  the  meritorious 
discharge  of  the  duties  to  which  he  had  assigned  them. 

Gen.  Weitzel  was  a  young  man  to  hold  so  responsible  a  posi 
tion,  and  well  do  the  boys  remember  the  scene  in  Camp  Stevens, 
when  over  a  hundred  officers  of  the  regiments  of  his  command 
called  to  congratulate  him  on  his  twenty-seventh  birthday.  He 
requested  his  staff  officers,  all  of  whom  were  older  than  himself, 
to  aid  in  entertaining  his  guests  ;  and  never  had  they  seen  him 
come  so  near  showing  the  "  white  feather,"  and  having  his 
wonted  gravity  of  manner  disturbed.  When  an  officer  pro 
posed  the  sentiment :  "  To  the  gallant  young  brigadier  general, 
Godfrey  Weitzel,"  etc.,  he  modestly  exclaimed :  "  This  is  not 
an  official  occasion,  gentlemen.  Please  call  me  G.  Weitzel,  lieu 
tenant  of  engineers."  It  was  about  this  time  that  he  was  noti 
fied  of  his  promotion  to  captain  of  engineers,  and  he  received 
the  announcement  with  the  quiet  remark  :  "  It 's  all  right,  I  have 
earned  it,  and  am  entitled  to  it;  but  this  'brigadier  general' 
commission  I  have  yet  to  earn." 

Gen.  Weitzel  was  quick  to  recognize  merit  in  men  and  regi 
ments,  and  on  many  occasions  he  cheered  the  hearts  of  the 
soldiers  by  complimenting  their  behavior,  and  assuring  them  of 
his  confidence  in  their  courage  and  endurance.  When  asked 


Forbes  Co. 


GEN.  GODFREY  WEITZEL 


A    REMEMBRANCE.  155 

by  consulting  generals  if  such  or  such  a  march,  dash,  or  attack 
could  be  successfully  made,  he  was  wont  to  reply,  "  Yes,  with 
my  Eighth  Vermont,  Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  Seventy-fifth 
and  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  I  have  no  fears 
for  the  result."  He  took  pleasure  also  in  the  fact  that  the  Eighth 
Vermont  had  in  its  ranks  men  of  every  trade  and  profession. 
When  Gen.  Butler  once  asked:  "Weitzel,  how  is  it  that  all 
your  staff  departments  are  in  such  perfect  order,  and  their  papers 
so  correctly  and  promptly  returned  ?  "  he  quickly  answered  : 
"  Sir,  I  have  in  my  brigade  men  competent  to  transact  any  kind 
of  business,  so  I  simply  appoint  my  staff,  and  leave  each  man 
to  carry  out  the  details  and  manage  his  own  department." 
While  going  down  to  Donaldsonville,  after  the  surrender  of 
Port  Hudson,  Col.  Thomas,  worn  out  and  sick,  swooned  in 
the  steamer's  cabin.  On  being  revived,  Gen.  Weitzel  said 
to  him  :  "  I  have  several  times  advised  you  to  take  a  leave 
of  absence  to  recruit  your  wasted  strength  ;  now  I  order  you 
to  do  so,  for  I  must  have  you  saved  to  this  command." 

The  general  was  born  in  Cincinnati  in  1835,  was  graduated 
from  West  Point  in  1855,  and  died  in  Philadelphia  in  1883.  He 
was  emphatically  the  soul  of  his  command,  and  the  subjoined 
letter  testifies  to  the  pleasant  remembrances  he  always  retained 
of  them.  It  was  written  in  answer  to  an  invitation  to  attend 
the  reunion  of  Vermont  officers. 

DETROIT,  MICH.,  Oct.  i,  1880. 

My  Dear  Sir :  My  duties  here,  and  the  sad  condition  of  my  eyes,  forbid 
my  acceptance  of  your  invitation  to  meet  the  Vermont  officers  at  their  annual 
reunion;  but  I  beg  you  will  convey  to  them  my  kind  remembrances,  espe 
cially  to  your  brave  old  commander,  Gen.  Thomas  (who  I  hope  is  alive  and 
well),  and  to  the  members  of  the  gallant  old  Eighth  Regiment.  She  was 
always  reliable,  and  I  have  good  reason  to  remember  the  readiness  with 
which  she  sprang  to  every  duty.  Our  old  boys  are  so  scattered  that  I 
rarely  see  any  of  them  now,  but  shall  ever  remember  them  with  pleasure. 

Yours  with  esteem, 

G.  WEITZEL. 

To  LIEUT.  FRED  E.  SMITH,  Montpelier,  Vt. 


VII. 


TO    THE    SHENANDOAH. 

IT  was  the  destiny  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  to  have 
a  varied  experience  during  the  period  of  its  active  military 
service.  The  January  rigors  of  a  northern  New  England  winter 
were  exchanged  for  a  semi-tropical  climate,  and  the  passage  was 
made  on  a  stormy  sea.  It  was  lovely  mid-summer  when  the 
regiment  returned  along  the  same  coast,  and  found  the  waves 
smoothed  before  their  sliding  keel. 

They  did  not  leave  the  St.  Mary,  on  which  they  had  embarked 
at  New  Orleans,  until  it  dropped  anchor  in  the  river  in  front  of 
the  city  of  Washington.  On  reaching  Fortress  Monroe,  where 
Col.  Thomas  had  been  ordered  to  report,  he  received  further 
instructions  to  continue  his  voyage,  and  report  to  the  secretary 
of  war.  This  opened  to  the  regiment  a  new  field  of  operations, 
and  brought  the  men  into  association  with  troops  and  officers 
to  whom  they  had  hitherto  been  strangers.  For  three  years 
had  they  been  marching  and  fighting  in  a  country  abounding 
in  swamps  and  malaria  ;  their  future  work  lay  in  one  of  the 
most  delightful  and  healthful  sections  of  the  Union. 

At  Fortress  Monroe  Col.  Thomas  landed  in  a  small  boat 
and  received  his  orders.  While  returning  to  the  vessel  he  was 
hailed  by  Gen.  Emory,  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  who  had  just 
arrived  and  wanted  to  know  what  was  to  be  done,  for  he  had 
not  reported,  and  of  course  knew  nothing  at  that  time  about  the 
order  to  Washington.  But  the  St.  Mary  was  ready  to  sail,  con 
sequently  Thomas  and  the  Eighth  Vermont  reached  the  capital 


OUT   FROM    WASHINGTON.  157 

on  the  1 3th  of  July,  1864,  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  rest  of 
the  corps.  Leaving  his  men  to  disembark,  the  colonel  hastened 
at  once  to  report  to  the  war  department.  Secretary  Stanton 
expressed  gratification  at  his  timely  arrival,  and  designated  his 
command  the  advance  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps.  Gen.  Early 
was  then  menacing  the  city,  which  was  almost  defenceless  for 
lack  of  troops,  and  it  was  feared  that  the  capital  might  be 
captured.  Col.  Thomas  immediately  received  his  orders,  and 
marched  his  men  through  the  city  in  the  direction  of  George 
town.  As  they  passed  the  White  House  President  Lincoln 
was  in  sight  and  saluted  them  by  lifting  his  hat.  The  courtesy 
was  returned  with  three  rousing  cheers  and  a  tiger. 

The  force  under  Col.  Thomas  included  besides  his  own  men 
remnants  of  several  other  regiments,  and,  passing  Fort  Reno, 
they  encamped  that  night  at  Tennallytown,  Rockville.  On  the 
14th  the  march  was  continued  to  Poolsville,  near  the  river, 
where  the  troops  remained  until  the  i6th.  Then  pushing 
westward,  the  men  waded  across  the  Potomac  at  White's 
Ford,  and  went  into  camp  near  Leesburg  in  the  evening, 
after  a  dusty  and  fatiguing  march.  Here  the  colonel  re 
ceived  orders  to  search  the  town  for  concealed  Confederates 
and  arms.  On  the  following  morning,  which  was  Sunday,  he 
entered  the  streets,  and,  having  disposed  his  men  so  as  to 
command  all  the  approaches  to  the  town,  proceeded  to  execute 
his  work.  A  considerable  number  of  prisoners  was  taken  into 
custody  and  secured.  Among  them  was  a  soldier  in  gray 
whom  Sergt.  Lamb,  of  Company  I,  recognized  as  his  own 
cousin. 

Having  retired  from  Maryland,  Gen.  Early  was  at  Snicker's 
Gap,  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  thither  the  Eighth  Vermont  was 
ordered  to  follow  him  on  the  i8th.  But  when  the  place  was 
reached  in  the  afternoon,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  had 
retreated  over  the  mountain  just  in  season  to  avoid  them. 
From  this  time  until  the  meeting  of  the  two  armies  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Opequon  in  September,  Thomas  and  his  regiment  had  an 
experience  not  unlike  that  which  many  of  them  might  have 
heard  their  grandfathers  speak  of  having  in  Revolutionary  times, 


158  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

—  marching  and  countermarching;  pursuing  the  enemy,  but 
having  no  decisive  engagement  ;  hurried  hither  and  thither  on 
long,  toilsome  tramps,  without  being  allowed  time  for  sleep  or 
rations.  The  sun  was  extremely  hot,  the  roads  dusty  and 
sandy,  and  the  men  were  thoroughly  foot-sore  and  jaded. 

On  the  next  advance  the  regiment  climbed  the  mountains 
east  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the 
2Oth  forded  the  river  into  the  beautiful  valley  which  was  to  be 
the  scene  of  their  greatest  achievements.  The  tents  were  pitched 
near  the  Berryville  pike,  not  far  from  the  spot  where  the  enemy 
had  passed  the  previous  night,  and  a  house  where  Confederate 
Gen.  Breckenridge  slept  was  pointed  out  to  Col.  Thomas.  In 
the  afternoon  a  terrific  thunderstorm  and  tornado  swept  over 
the  place,  and  one  man  belonging  to  a  New  York  regiment  was 
killed  by  the  lightning. 

At  sunset  that  night  orders  came  to  return  again  to  Wash 
ington  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Accordingly,  the  troops  retraced 
the  route  by  which  they  had  just  advanced,  marched  all  night, 
and  did  not  make  a  halt  until  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  2 1 st.  When  the  men  forded  the  river,  they  found  the 
stream,  which  was  probably  swollen  by  the  afternoon  rain,  up 
to  their  armpits,  and  as  they  climbed  the  banks  on  the  moun 
tain  side  with  their  shoes  full  of  water,  the  sand  worked  into 
them,  and  very  soon  the  soldiers  began  to  complain  of  blis 
tered  feet.  In  some  cases,  too,  the  soaking  so  demoralized 
Uncle  Sam's  contract  leather,  that  sole  and  upper  parted,  and  the 
poor  wearers  were  obliged  to  trudge  on  in  their  stocking  feet. 

During  that  short  mprning  halt,  coffee  was  made,  but  the 
men  had  no  solid  food,  and  before  they  had  time  to  drink  it 
orders  came  to  "  fall  in,"  and  they  marched  to  Goose  creek,  a 
small  stream  a  few  miles  beyond  Leesburg,  and  there  rested 
until  afternoon.  Then  they  pressed  forward  again  until  eleven 
o'clock  at  night,  when,  thoroughly  jaded,  they  dropped  down 
without  any  supper,  and  slept  on  their  arms.  The  next  morn 
ing  found  them  on  the  move  again  ;  and,  crossing  the  Potomac 
at  Chain  bridge,  they  went  into  camp  on  a  hill  overlooking  the 
bridge,  and  remained  there  two  nights. 


TRAMP,     TRAMP,     TRAMP.  ,       159 

On  the  26th  a  march  of  nineteen  miles  was  made  to  Ten- 
nallytown  on  the  Frederick  pike,  where  the  troops  had  bivou 
acked  on  the  first  night  after  leaving  Washington.  The  next 
day  the  movement  was  ordered  in  another  direction,  and  the 
following  night  was  spent  at  a  place  a  little  beyond  Hyat- 
town.  The  men  camped  without  supper,  and  before  the  next 
sunrise  were  marching  again.  Passing  through  Ubana,  they 
bivouacked  at  Monocacy  Junction,  where  Early  had  whipped 
Lew  Wallace  some  twenty  days  before. 

It  was  a  zigzag,  tiresome  game  they  played  there  with  the 
wily  enemy,  for  Gen.  Early  did  not  propose  to  quit  that  region 
till  he  had  severely  worried  his  antagonist,  even  though  he  failed 
to  carry  a  secession  flag  into  the  capital  of  the  United  States. 
At  that  stage  of  affairs,  therefore,  the  only  mode  of  dealing  with 
him  was  to  follow  him  closely,  and  keep  the  hostile  army  at  bay 
as  far  as  possible.  Accordingly,  Col.  Thomas  and  his  command 
continued  their  devious  route  by  fording  the  shallow  river,  and 
moving  towards  Harper's  Ferry  on  the  28th.  Nineteen  miles 
of  hard  marching  brought  them  to  Halltovvn,  where,  tired  and 
hungry,  they  encamped,  and  enjoyed  a  good  ration  of  beef  and  a 
little  fun  at  the  expense  of  an  old  gentleman,  who  came  to  head 
quarters  inquiring  for  his  lost  cow.  But  her  fate  was  sealed,  and 
he  discovered  no  evidence  of  her  bovine  identity  save  in  the 
stew-pans  beneath  which  the  cooks  were  feeding  the  fires. 

Harper's  Ferry  was  reached  on  the  3Oth,  and  the  troops  were 
ordered  to  climb  Bolivar  Heights.  There  they  remained  three 
hours,  not  devoting  their  time  to  a  leisurely  survey  of  the 
natural  beauties  commanded  by  that  eminence,  it  is  safe  to 
say  ;  then  they  all  marched  down  again,  and  trudged  thirteen 
miles  away  to  Jefferson,  reaching  the  place  about  midnight. 
A  halt  and  a  short  nap,  when  the  familiar  "fall  in  !  "  smote  their 
drowsy  ears,  and  they  were  off  again.  On  the  last  hot  night  of 
the  month,  exhausted  for  lack  of  proper  food  and  rest,  the 
weary  Vermont  boys  passed  through  Frederick  and  chose  a 
camp  near  a  water  spring  beyond.  It  had  been  a  Sabbath- 
day's  journey,  too,  but  longer  than  the  ancient  Hebrew  rule 
would  have  sanctioned.  A  herd  of  cattle  was  grazing  near 


l6o  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

by,  and  Col.  Thomas  sent  word  to  Gen.  Dvvight  that  if  the 
regiment  was  not  supplied  with  meat,  some  of  those  sleek 
animals  would  shed  their  hides  before  nightfajl.  But  pleasanter 
thoughts  than  those  of  unsatisfied  hunger  came  to  the  jaded 
soldiers.  The  camp  was  pitched  on  high  ground,  from  which 
the  men,  on  looking  down  into  the  streets  of  the  town  they  had 
passed,  saw  kindly  women  engaged  in  carrying  water  to  another 
body  of  Union  troops  which  had  halted  there.  The  sight  was 
ravishing  ;  it  reminded  them  of  the  clear,  pure  streams  slipping 
down  their  native  hills,  and  they  could  not  resist  the  tempta 
tion  to  go  thither  and  quench  their  intolerable  thirst.  The  col 
onel  gave  them  a  fatherly  caution  about  over-drinking,  and  thus 
saved  many  of  his  men  from  the  consequences  of  excessive 
indulgence.  The  meat  supplies  failed  to  arrive,  and,  after 
waiting  a  proper  time,  the  men  were  allowed  to  prey  upon  the 
adjacent  herd  ;  and  for  once,  having  borrowed  some  salt  of  a 
grocer,  the  half-starved  men  "made  a  meal  of  it." 

Few  people,  without  having  shared  a  soldier's  experience,  can 
realize  what  it  is  to  march  day  after  day,  as  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  men  did  those  hot  July  days  and  nights.  The  excessive 
fatigue,  the  grinding  torture  caused  by  loss  of  regular  food  and 
sleep,  and  the  long  continued  motion,  are  truthfully  described 
in  the  following  paragraphs  quoted  from  a  Confederate  soldier's 
letter,  published  in  a  southern  newspaper : 

"  It  must  be  remembered  that  a  soldier,  with  his  rifle,  ammunition,  blan 
ket,  provisions,  etc.,  is  weighted  down  about  fifty  pounds,  or  over,  and  this 
dead  weight,  instead  of  being  distributed  over  the  body,  bears  chiefly  upon 
the  shoulders.  , 

"  Those  who  have  never  been  there  generally  suppose  that  the  actual 
contact  of  battle  is  the  hardest  and  most  trying  to  the  nerves  and  pluck  in 
the  phases  of  a  soldier's  life.  This  is  a  fallacy.  Many  a  time  have  I  heard 
my  comrades  express  satisfaction,  after  a  long  and  distressing  march,  at 
having  got  at  last  within  striking  distance  of  the  foe.  I  do  not  believe  that 
the  man  lives,  or  has  lived,  who  could  honestly  say  that  he  never  felt  fear 
while  on  the  eve  of  battle,  or  rather  when  first  going  under  fire. 

"  But  a  forced  march  is  a  terror  to  the  best  of  troops,  no  matter  how  well 
they  may  have  been  disciplined.  What  do  the  readers  of  this  paper  sup 
pose  that  a  forced  march  means  ?  It  means  torture  of  mind  and  torture  of 
body  ;  it  means  a  dull  aching  of  every  joint  and  bone  and  marrow  of  the 


UNDER    SHERIDAN.  l6l 

bones  ;  it  means  not  simply  utter  weariness  and  pain,  but  an  almost  com 
plete  prostration  of  the  physical  powers ;  it  means  that  one  falls  asleep  for 
a  minute  while  mechanically  plodding  along,  to  awake  with  a  start  while 
staggering  to  a  fall ;  it  means,  when  the  ten  minutes'  rest  comes  at  every 
two  miles,  to  sink  down  in  one's  tracks  like  an  empty  bag,  and  to  be  asleep 
before  you  touch  the  ground.  When  the  ten  minutes'  rest  expires  and  the 
command,  '  Fall  in  ! '  is  given,  one  awakes  and  gets  up  from  mere  force  of 
habit,  and  resumes  the  grinding  task,  stirfer  and  sorer,  if  possible,  than 
before. 

"It  means,  finally,  that  one  would  barter  a  million  cheerfully  for  an 
hour's  rest  and  sleep,  and,  while  feeling  bound  to  obey  the  inexorable  com 
mand,  '  Forward/ one  is  in  such  a  state  of  mental  and  physical  wretchedness 
that  he  is  ready,  almost,  to  curse  God  and  die.  And  then,  too,  when  the 
day's  march  is  concluded,  sometimes  far  in  the  night,  what  must  be  the  con 
dition  of  those  detailed  to  guard  their  sleeping  comrades  ?  Surely  no  gal 
ley  slave  was  ever  tortured  like  this  ! 

"  And  such  a  march  often  occurred  in  the  most  inclement  weather, 
whether  the  sun  was  blazing  hot,  and  the  roads  so  dusty  that  one  could  not 
see  ten  yards  before  him,  or  the  air  was  bitter  cold,  and  the  snow  and 
slush  a  foot  deep  on  the  ground." 

The  experiences  of  the  regiment  during  the  month  of  August 
were  simply  those  of  July  repeated  —  hither  and  thither,  to  and 
fro,  over  the  familiar  roads,  varied,  it  may  be  observed,  by  a 
tendency  towards  Winchester  and  the  higher  points  in  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah.  But  Maryland  was  not  abandoned,  and  so 
frequently  did  the  Federal  troops  appear  at  that  confluence  of 
the  two  great  streams,  that  the  army  came  to  be  designated  as 
"Harper's  Weekly."  But  these  movements  did  not  long  wear 
the  aspect  of  an  aimless  campaign  ;  for,  on  the  loth  instant,  Gen. 
Phil  Sheridan  .assumed  the  command,  and  then  began  the 
initial  marches  in  a  masterly  plan,  which  was  to  culminate  in 
the  entire  destruction  of  the  Confederate  power  in  the  valley 
which  was  the  pride  of  Virginia. 

THE    VALLEY. 

From  the  Potomac  just  below  Harper's  Ferry,  the  Blue  Ridge 

mountains    have  a  south-southwesterly  trend  across  the  state 

of  Virginia.     To  the  west  is  another  irregular,  but  nearly  parallel 

range,  known  as  the  Kittatinny,  or  locally,  as  the   Great  North 

ii 


1 62  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

and  Little  North.  Between  these  two  mountain  walls  lies  an 
elevated  valley  having  an  average  width  of  about  twenty  miles. 
The  northerly  portion  of  this  valley,  (where  the  interest  of 
this  volume  now  centres)  is  about  a  hundred  miles  in  length, 
measured  from  the  northernmost  bend  of  the  Potomac  to  Staun- 
ton.  Roughly  estimated,  it  includes  an  area  equal  to  the  por 
tion  of  the  state  of  Vermont  lying  between  the  Green  Mountain 
ridge  and  the  Connecticut,  and  bounded  north  and  south  by  the 
parallels  of  Newbury  and  Brattleboro.  In  the  very  centre  of  this 
inclosed  territory  rise  several  other  rugged  mountain  spurs,  the 
highest  ending  abruptly  on  the  north,  and  called  Massanutten. 

As  the  mountains  round  about  Jerusalem  gird  a  spot  which 
to  the  ancient  Hebrew  was  a  synonym  for  all  that  is  lovely,  so 
these  sentinel  walls  of  western  Virginia  fence  in  a  land  of  great 
fertility  and  picturesque  beauty.  The  southern  portion  abounds 
in  little  water  streams,  which  gradually  draw  together  as  they 
flow  northward  into  the  Shenandoah,  that  joins  the  Potomac  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  In  this  charming  valley  nature  with  prodigal 
hand  has  blended  that  "  diversity  in  unity  "  which  gives  the 
highest  artistic  effect.  The  general  sweep  of  meadow  and 
pasture  is  everywhere  broken  by  grand  and  rugged  scenery ; 
wooded  heights  relieve  broad  acres  of  the  best  of  tillage  land  ; 
comfort  and  plenty  abound  on  every  hand  ;  and  the  rich  annual 
crops  are  so  bountiful,  that  the  place  has  been  long  and  widely 
known  as  the  granary  of  the  Middle  States. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  the  Shenandoah  valley  had  a  thrifty, 
industrious  population  ;  good  farms  and  busy  mills  afforded  the 
means  of  ample  support,  and  the  evidences  of  content  and 
prosperity  were  to  be  seen  on  every  side.  The  larger  centres 
were  connected  by  fine  macadamized  pikes  and  convenient 
railroad  lines,  so  that  when  it  afterwards  became  the  scene  of 
military  operations,  the  armies  and  wagon-trains  could  be  moved 
to  any  desirable  point  with  rapidity  and  ease. 

Considering  how  often  it  has  echoed  to  the  clash  of  arms,  this 
smiling  valley  is  worthy  to  be  called  a  historic  battle-ground. 
Long  before  Batte  explored  it,  or  Spottswood,  the  "  Tubal-Cain 
of  Virginia,"  visited  it  with  the  "Knights  of  the  Golden 


HISTORIC    BATTLE-GROUND.  163 

Horseshoe,"  tradition  says  it  had  been  the  scene  of  terrible 
Indian  wars,  between  the  northern  and  southern  tribes  of  the  con 
tinent.  The  original  white  settlers  were  Scotch-Irish  and  Ger 
mans,  and,  according  to  the  historian  Kercheval,  these  Celts 
and  Teutons  were  far  from  friendly  neighbors,  and  often  en 
gaged  in  sanguinary  quarrels.  On  St.  Patrick's  day  the  Dutch- 
men  would  march  through  the  streets  of  Winchester  in  proces 
sion,  carrying  effigies  of  the  saint  and  his  wife  Sheeley,  the 
former  decorated  with  a  necklace  of  Irish  potatoes,  and  his 
spouse  with  an  apron  full  of  them.  On  St.  Michael's  day, 
when  the  Germans  glorified  their  patron  saint,  the  Irishmen 
would  retaliate  by  exhibiting  an  effigy  of  that  saint  wearing  a 
necklace  of  sour-krout.  These  demonstrations  often  ended  kt 
fights,  bloody  noses,  and  broken  heads. 

Throughout  the  colonial  period  of  American  history,  the~ 
record  of  life  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  is  one  of  bloodshed. 
The  white  men  were  intruders  on  the  heritage  of  the  red  men,, 
and  must  fight.  The  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  assailed' 
them  as  they  planted  and  reaped.  The  foe  burned  their  cabins, 
murdered  their  strong  men,  and  dragged  their  women  and  chil 
dren  into  bondage  and  torture.  In  the  autumn  of  1775,  when 
the  shadow  of  the  Duquesne  disaster  darkened  the  whole  fron 
tier,  Washington  was  sent  to  Winchester  to  defend  the  valley 
against  the  savages.  He  found  the  place  full  of  refugees  and 
confusion,  and  it  was  no  easy  task  to  reduce  the  chaos  to  order, 
and  put  the  country  in  a  state  of  defence.  A  fort  was  built  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  town,  named  Fort  Loudoun,  mounted  with 
twenty-four  cannon,  and  containing  barracks  for  four  hundred 
and  fifty  men. 

In  the  fall  of  1859,  intrepid  John  Brown,  of  Ossawatomie, 
sacrificed  two  sons  on  the  altar  of  freedom  at  the  gateway  of 
the  Shenandoah,  and  baptized  it  with  their  blood.  From  a 
gibbet  of  infamy  his  soul  went  marching  on,  bearing  the  torch 
of  war  through  river  gorge  and  mountain  pass,  through  slimy 
swamp  and  lonely  bayou,  till  the  shackles  fell  from  the  race  for 
whom  he  fought  and  perished,  and  the  gate  he  sealed  with 
blood  became  a  highway  of  liberty. 


1 64  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

For  years  before  the  Eighth  Vermont  reached  Winchester  on 
their  zigzag  road  to  martial  glory,  this  rich  valley  had  been 
the  source  of  food  supplies  for  the  Confederate  army,  and  a 
thoroughfare  for  the  victorious  troops  of  Johnston,  Jackson, 
Ashby,  Lee,  Breckenridge,  Mosby,  Elwell,  Early,  and  other 
•commanders,  on  their  way  to  harass  or  invade  the  North.  To 
many  a  Federal  general  it  had  been  the  valley  of  humiliation, 
on  account  of  the  defeats  his  forces  had  suffered.  Neither 
Patterson,  Banks,  Shields,  Fremont,  Milroy,  Sigel,  nor  Crook, 
had  been  able  to  destroy  the  enemy  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  or 
drive  the  Confederate  armies  from  that  land  of  abundance, 
where  they  gathered  strength  to  prolong  the  conflict,  and  from 
which  they  raided  the  other  side  of  the  Potomac  and  menaced 
Washington. 

But  in  those  dark  days,  when  Federal  military  operations 
seemed  destined  to  end  in  failure,  relieved  only  by  an  occa 
sional  "masterly  retreat,"  and  loyal  men  began  to  feel  discour 
aged,  a  new  chieftain  entered  the  valley  through  John  Brown's 
blood-stained  gate,  who  had  power  to  reverse  the  fortunes  of 
war  and  cause  victory  to  rest  on  the  Union  standards.  From 
the  day  that  Gen.  Phil  Sheridan  took  the  command,  purpose, 
and  not  fortuity,  governed  the  march  of  Union  troops  along  the 
Shenandoah,  and  the  reign  of  defiant  rebellion  drew  rapidly  to 
a  close.  The  jaded  soldiers  who  rallied  round  his  standard, 
from  the  plodding  campaigns  of  Louisiana  or  the  vanquished 
battle-fields  of  the  Atlantic  slope,  found  in  this  new  theatre  of 
action  the  romance  of  the  war.  The  service  there  might  be 
more  exacting,  the  white  heat  of  battle  more  terrible ;  but  the 
greatest  generalship  on  both  sides  was  there  to  contend  for 
mastery,  and  victory,  if  achieved,  would  crown  the  conquerors 
with  laurels  of  glory. 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  volume  to  attempt  to  set 
forth  the  masterly  plan  upon  which  Gen.  Sheridan  acted,  or  to 
describe  in  detail  the  movements  and  achievements  of  that 
mighty  force  of  infantry,  artillery,  and  horse,  which  he  offi 
cially  designated  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah.  All  this  has 
been  done  repeatedly  and  well.  But  in  following  the  fortunes 


MAJOR  H.  M.  POLLARD. 


THE     VALLEY    CAMPAIGN.  165 

of  the  Eighth  Vermont  it  will  be  necessary  to  make  frequent 
references  to  the  division  and  corps  to  which  it  belonged,  and 
in  tracing  its  movements  in  the  great  battles  of  the  valley  very 
brief  allusions  to  the  positions  of  the  opposing  armies  will 
enable  the  intelligent  reader,  with  the  aid  of  maps,  to  under 
stand  the  subject. 

Sheridan  initiated  his  valley  campaign  by  marching  his 
forces  out  of  Halltown,  just  south  of  Harper's  Ferry,  towards 
Winchester,  on  the  morning  of  August  loth.  The  Sixth  Corps 
moved  through  Charlestown  to  Clifton,  there  forming  the  right 
infantry  line,  the  Nineteenth  Corps  followed  the  Berryville 
pike,  until  its  right  joined  the  left  of  the  Sixth  ;  the  Eighth 
Corps  proceeded  through  Cabletown  to  Berryville,  coming  up 
on  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth.  An  easy  day's  march  brought 
this  army  into  a  position  which  the  commander  thought  strong 
in  itself  and  favorable  for  defence  at  any  time,  and  disposed 
the  three  corps  in  the  order  in  which  they  were  to  advance. 
Keeping  in  mind,  then,  that  the  Eighth  Vermont  belonged  to 
the  Second  Brigade  (Gen.  McMillan)  in  the  first  division  of 
the  Nineteenth  Corps,  the  reader  will  find  it  easy  to  follow  its 
subsequent  movements. 

Gen.  Jubal  Early  was  in  command  of  the  Confederate  army 
with  which  Gen.  Sheridan  had  to  cope,  and  was  holding  Win 
chester  when  the  Federal  troops  began  the  movement  already 
described.  But  the  enemy  was  not  ready  to  accept  battle,  and, 
consequently,  while  Sheridan  was  moving  out  towards  the  Ope- 
quon  on  the  morning  of  the  nth,  Early  was  pressing  beyond 
Winchester  in  the  direction  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Strasburg. 
For  three  days  the  two  armies  continued  their  marches  up  the 
valley,  neither  inclining  to  offer  battle,  though  there  was  con 
stant  and  sharp  skirmishing,  especially  by  the  cavalry,  on  both 
sides.  The  part  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  in  this  movement  was, 
a  march  and  countermarch,  and  a  brisk  skirmish  with  the 
enemy,  on  the  nth;  more  skirmishing  during  a  march  via 
Middletown  to  Cedar  Creek,  on  the  I2th;  serving  as  grand 
guard  on  the  Front  Royal  pike,  on  the  1 3th. 


566  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

At  this  stage  of  operations  Sheridan  learned  that  the  enemy 
held  a  strongly  fortified  position  at  Fisher's  Hill,  that  they  had 
a  signal  station  on  the  highest  point  of  the  Massanutten  moun 
tains,  from  which  all  his  movements  could  be  seen  and  reported, 
that  reinforcements  were  on  the  way  and  would  soon  join 
Early ;  and  he  deemed  it  prudent  to  retreat.  Accordingly  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  began  to  retire  on  the  night  of  the  I5th, 
which  brought  Col.  Thomas  into  Winchester  at  daylight  next 
morning.  He  then  pressed  on  to  Berryville  and  Summit  Hill, 
constantly  manoeuvring  with  the  enemy  for  several  days,  and 
arrived  at  Halltown  again  on  the  2ist,  and  fortified  his  posi 
tion.  At  first  Sheridan  attempted  to  make  a  stand  near  Berry 
ville,  but  after  a  short  engagement  between  the  Sixth  Corps  and 
the  enemy,  he  withdrew  his  whole  army  to  Halltown  on  the 

2  I  St. 

So  far  as  the  country  could  determine  from  the  reports  of 
this  primary  movement  in  the  valley,  the  new  commander,  on 
whom  thousands  of  anxious  and  critical  eyes  were  fixed,  had 
done  like  his  predecessors  in  the  same  field,  and  fled  before  the 
enemy.  But  in  reality  the  case  was  somewhat  better.  In 
moving  back  from  Cedar  Creek  to  Winchester,  Torbert's  Cav 
alry,  by  direct  order  from  Sheridan,  had  burned  barns  and 
crops,  laid  the  country  waste,  and  seized  all  the  horses,  mules, 
and  cattle  for  the  benefit  of  the  army.  This  was  a  military 
necessity,  and,  in  reporting  the  act,  Sheridan  wrote  to  Gen. 
Grant  that  he  had  "  destroyed  everything  eatable  south  of 
Winchester,  and  they  [the  Confederates]  will  have  to  haul 
supplies  from  well  up  to/wards  Staunton." 

For  several  days  Early  seemed  to  be  trying  the  strength  of 
the  Union  position  at  Halltown,  while  Sheridan  remained 
quiet ;  then  he  feigned  to  be  about  to  raid  across  the  Potomac 
again.'  But  having  accomplished  nothing  of  importance,  the 
Confederates  moved  up  the  valley  again  on  the  26th  instant, 
and  encamped  at  Bunker  Hill.  Two  days  later,  the  Federal 
army  followed  on  after  Early,  and  the  Eighth  Vermont  bivou 
acked  at  Charlestown,  the  enemy  being  near  at  hand.  What 
was  known  as  the  Clifton-Berryville  line  was  again  occu- 


SHERIDAN'S    TIME.  l6/ 

pied  by  the  Union  forces.  There  was  some  spirited  fighting 
between  portions  of  the  opposing  lines  during  several  succes 
sive  days,  but  no  general  engagement,  and  on  the  4th  of  Sep 
tember  Early  withdrew  his  whole  army  across  the  Opequon. 
Then  for  ten  days  more  the  same  position  was  held,  and  the 
skirmishing  continued  with  unabated  vigor. 

But  while  enduring  this  exhausting  life,  in  which  the  regi 
ment  seemed  to  be  simply  marching  against  time,  several 
worthy  men  were  cheered  by  the  receipt  of  commissions. 
First  Lieut.  John  Bisbee,  Company  B,  was  made  captain ; 
Wheaton  Livingston,  Jr.,  Company  B,  first  lieutenant;  Henry 
Carpenter,  Company  F,  first  lieutenant. 

Why  "  Little  Phil "  waited  so  long,  acting  only  on  the  defen 
sive,  the  public  could  not  understand,  and  many  messages  of 
distrust  reached  his  ears,  while  the  lookers-on  clamored  loudly 
for  him  to  "do  something."  But  Sheridan  knew  what  he  was 
waiting  for,  and  when  at  length  assurance  came  that  the  enemy 
had  been  weakened  by  the  long-expected  withdrawal  of  Ker- 
shaw,  he  was  aware  that  the  moment  for  aggressive  action  had 
arrived,  and  remarked  :  "Our  time  has  come." 


VIII. 


BATTLE    OF   OPEQUON. 

GEN.  SHERIDAN  decided  to  attack  Gen.  Early  in  front  of 
Winchester,  on  the  iQth.of  September,  and  by  taking  the 
aggressive  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  between  the  two 
armies.  In  accordance  with  his  plan  of  operations  the  Union 
troops  began  to  move  out  from  Berryville  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  the  manoeuvres  which  at  length  brought  the 
Eighth  Vermont  into  action  will  be  made  sufficiently  clear  by 
following  the  route  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  to  its  position  on 
the  battle-ground. 

Winchester  is  a  little  more  than  ten  miles  west  of  Berry 
ville,  and  the  two  towns  are  connected  by  a  macadamized  turn 
pike,  which  about  six  miles  out  from  Berryville  crosses  Opequon 
creek,  and  enters  a  narrow  defile  or  canon  that  soon  opens  upon 
the  wider  valley  and  undulating  ground,  on  which  the 
troops  were  deployed.  The  Opequon,  after  which  Gen.  Sheri 
dan  named  his  famous' battle,  to  distinguish  it  from  other  Win 
chester  engagements,  is  a  small  stream  which  flows  in  a  north 
erly  direction  to  the  Potomac.  On  each  side  of  the  canon  it 
receives  an  affluent  which  rises  on  the  higher  land  beyond 
Winchester.  The  north  branch  is  called  Red  Bud  Run,  the 
south  Abraham's  Creek,  and  between  them,  on  both  sides  of  the 
pike,  lies  the  battle-ground.  The  general  surface  is  broken 
and  rolling,  and  interspersed  with  belts  of  woods  between  open 
spaces.  But  just  in  front  of  the  town  the  land  slopes  up  to  a 
plateau,  gradually  rising  higher  on  the  left  towards  Front  Royal 


THE    FIRST    CLASH.  169 

pike,  and  on  this  the  main  body  of  Early's  army  was  stationed 
to  resist  the  Union  attack. 

In  telling  this  simple  story,  it  is  not  necessary  to  set  forth 
the  entire  plan  of  battle  that  has  been  so  graphically  described 
in  more  comprehensive  works.  The  well-informed  reader,  and 
certainly  every  veteran  survivor  of  that  terrible  struggle,  is 
familiar  with  the  routes  along  which  the  cavalry  advanced,  and 
the  three  infantry  corps  and  artillery  followed,  into  position  on 
the  field.  He  knows  that  Wilson's  mounted  brigades  swept 
through  the  Berryville  canon  in  the  early  morning,  driving  the 
enemy  from  the  outposts,  and  clearing  the  way,  while  Col. 
Thomas,  with  the  Eighth  Vermont,  after  being  detained  in  the 
gorge,  arrived  at  the  front  just  before  ten,  and  went  into 
position  with  the  second  division  (Grover's)  in  the  first  line  of 
battle,  and  the  first  division  (Dwight's)  held  in  reserve. 

On  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  the  Sixth  had  already 
formed,  with  the  third  division  (Ricketts's)  on  the  right  of  the 
pike.  The  Eighth  Corps,  also,  which  had  been  assigned  to  the 
right  of  the  Union  line,  was  moving  up  along  Red  Bud  Run. 

Such  was  the  position  of  Sheridan's  infantry  when,  twenty 
minutes  before  mid-day,  a  grand  advance  was  ordered  across  an 
open  belt  of  ground  to  the  woods  and  clearing  beyond,  and  the 
battle  became  general  and  deadly.  The  Sixth  was  soon  driv 
ing  the  Confederates  Ramseur  and  Rodes  back  over  an  almost 
open  field,  while  Grover's  division  made  a  sharp  attack  on 
Gordon  from  the  covert  of  the  woods.  At  first  Gordon's  line 
fell  back,  and,  inspired  by  their  success,  Grover's  brigades 
charged  forward  under  a  withering  fire ;  but  the  enemy 
received  a  strong  reinforcement,  the  success  was  reversed,  and 
both  Grover  and  Ricketts  were  forced  back  with  terrible  loss. 
In  this  repulse  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  belonging  to 
Grover's  second  brigade,  was  so  nearly  annihilated  that  the 
lines  were  completely  broken,  and,  while  the  remnants  of  the 
companies  wandered  away  and  disappeared,  the  color  guard 
remained  on  the  field,  still  bearing  their  signals  aloft,  and  when 
the  Eighth  Vermont  came  into  action,  took  a  place  in  the  color 
company  of  that  regiment. 


I/O  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

When  Gen.  Emory's  second  division  fell  back,  the  first, 
which  had  been  held  in  reserve,  was  orderejj  to  the  front,  and 
the  Eighth  Vermont  and  Twelfth  Connecticut  relieved  Col. 
Molineux,  who  had  retreated  under  a  murderous  fire,  and  were 
ordered  forward  with  Company  F,  Capt.  W.  H.  Smith,  deployed 
as  skirmishers.  Over  that  bloody  ground,  strewn  with  the  dead 
and  wounded  of  both  armies,  these  companion  regiments  ad 
vanced  at  the  command  of  Col.  Thomas,  amid  the  most  fearful 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  they  had  ever  encountered.  For  three 
mortal  hours  they  stubbornly  held  the  exposed  position,  while 
the  ranks  were  thinned,  and  the  hot  carnage  raged  on  every 
hand.  They  stood  the  test  without  flinching,  and  many  a  brave 
deed  was  there  enacted,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  the 
pages  that  follow. 

The  climax  in  this  terrible  day,  as  all  the  world  knows,  was 
reached  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  Confederates,  who, 
from  a  strong  vantage  ground,  had  been  fighting  with  despe 
rate  energy  under  skilful  leaders,  began  to  give  way  under  the 
persistent  hammering  of  "  Little  Phil."  When  that  supreme 
moment  came,  and  Crook's  superb  column  like  a  mountain  ava 
lanche  poured  down  upon  the  exhausted  enemy,  it  brought  an 
opportunity  for  the  Eighth  Vermont  to  render  a  signal  service, 
and  win  thereby  a  lasting  record  on  the  scroll  of  fame.  An 
inspiration,  such  as  sometimes  comes  to  men  under  great  pres 
sure,  seized  Col.  Thomas  and  carried  him  whither  it  would. 
Notwithstanding  the  orders  were  to  hold  his  ground,  he  charged 
with  his  regiment,  follo/wed  by  the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  be 
yond  the  rest  of  his  corps,  beyond  every  other  Union  line,  in 
fact,  and  broke  the  enemy's  front ;  and  using  this  position  as 
a  pivot,  the  right  and  left  wings  of  Sheridan's  victorious  army 
swung  like  huge  jaws  against  the  vanquished  Early,  putting  his 
broken  lines  to  flight  and  utter  rout. 

Concerning  this  famous  charge,  which  seemed  to  have  been 
the  turning-point  of  the  day,  Greeley  says  :  "  Col.  Thomas, 
Eighth  Vermont,  ordered  his  men  to  charge  at  double-quick 
with  the  bayonet.  In  vain  general  officers  shouted  '  Halt ! ' 
'  Lie  down  !  '  '  Wait  for  supports  ! '  etc. ;  for,  while  some  were 


ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    BATTLE.  I /I 

still  confused  and  vacillating,  a  staff  officer  from  the  right  gal 
loped  in  front,  and  pointed  with  his  sabre  to  the  woods  which 
sheltered  the  enemy.  At  once,  all  dissent  was  silenced,  all 
hesitation  at  an  end ;  the  whole  centre,  as  one  man,  swept 
forward  cheering  and  plunging  into  the  woods,  meeting  there 
Crook's  corps,  charging  from  the  flank.  All  the  rebels  who 
could  still  travel  were  by  this  time  going  or  gone." 

The  record  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  in  the  battle  of  Opequon 
appears  as  a  "  twice-told  tale  "  in  subsequent  pages.  The  first 
account  is  contributed  to  the  volume  by  Capt.  S.  E.  Howard, 
of  Company  C,  who  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  masterly 
struggle  which  made  the  gallant  Sheridan  a  leader  of  heroes., 
The  second  account  is  from  the  pen  of  Col.  Herbert  E.  Hill,  who 
entered  with  enthusiasm  into  the  very  front  and  heat  of  the 
deadly  strife  when  the  first  guns  were  fired,  and  was  close  on  the 
flying  enemy's  rear  when  the  last  Confederate  shot  announced 
their  utter  defeat.  Each  writer  has  told  the  story  in  his 
own  way,  and  while  the  first  has  the  wider  scope,  the  second 
relates  what  has  rarely  if  ever  appeared  in  print,  what  a  soldier 
in  the  ranks  beholds  as  he  advances  into  the  thick  of  the  fight. 

But  before  these  sketches  of  the  fight  are  introduced,  it  is 
fitting  that  a  brief  tribute  should  be  paid  to  the  exemplary  hero 
ism  of  four  young  men  from  Winchester,  N.  H.,  who  have 
already  been  alluded  to,  and  who  joined  the  Eighth  Vermont  in 
the  gallant  charge  that  capped  the  climax  of  the  day. 

Francis  H.  Buff um,  now  widely  known  as  Maj.  Buffum,  on  the 
staff  of  the  Boston  Herald,  Charles  G.  Howard,  Henry  E.  Bald 
win,  and  Henry  A.  Wood,  were  the  color  bearers  who,  when 
their  regiment  went  to  pieces,  carried  their  deserted  standard 
to  the  side  of  that  on  which  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  their  sister 
state  aligned,  and  voluntarily  shared  with  them  the  dangers  of 
the  front,  when  they  might  have  retired  without  incurring  the 
slightest  stigma  of  cowardice.  As  a  unique  act  of  bravery  on 
the  field  this  deed  is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  They  were 
mere  boys  who,  before  that  day,  could  scarcely  be  said  to  have 
been  under  fire ;  but  they  behaved  like  veterans,  and,  forgetful 


1/2  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

of  peril,  refused  to  be  swept  away  with  their  broken  lines,  and 
added  the  influence  of  their  personal  courage. to  the  inspiration 
which  broke  the  enemy's  front,  and  insured  the  victory.  While 
his  regiment  was  under  the  terrific  morning  fire,  Maj.  Buffuni 
exhibited  his  coolness  and  pluck  by  standing  up  while  the  en 
tire  line  lay  prostrate  on  the  ground ;  and  requesting  his  three 
comrades  also  to  lie  down,  he  said  :  "  Boys,  if  I  fall,  do  n't  forget 
that  I  did  my  duty."  At  the  request  of  the  historian,  Maj. 
Buffum  has  writen  for  these  pages  the  following  lively  descrip 
tion  of  the  scenes  in  which  the  homeless  color  guard  of  the 
Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  participated. 

AS  OTHERS    SEE  US. 

A  regimental  history  is  written,  generally,  from  an  inside 
point  of  view.  Yet  it  may  be  well  to  vary  its  pages  with  the 
paragraphic  glimpse  of  the  outside  eye  and  pen.  I  gladly  stand 
for  such  an  outsider,  although,  in  my  present  mood,  I  feel  very 
much  identified  with  the  Eighth  Vermont,  an  organization 
dearer  to  me  than  any  other  save  my  own.  It  was  my  good 
fortune  to  occupy  a  position  during  the  whole  of  the  afternoon 
on  the  sanguinary  field  of  the  Opequon,  where  I  could  critically 
observe  the  conduct  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  and  I  desire  to 
give  in  my  testimony.  Fortunate  indeed  were  the  battle-tossed 
waifs  from  your  sister  state  that  the  eye  of  your  commander 
was  upon  us,  and  that  his  memory  is  yet  clear  concerning  our 
conduct  on  that  field,  for  our  own  regiment  knew  nothing  of 
our  whereabouts. 

The  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  battered  by  the  shells  of 
Fitz  Lee,  drenched  in  its  best  blood,  had  been  whirled  out  of 
organized  existence  by  a  reinforced  foe,  after  a  splendid  and 
triumphant  charge,  which  opened  the  battle,  by  the  infantry. 
Struck  three  times  by  shell  and  bullet,  though  not  seriously,  I 
had  a  sense  of  being  hurled  out  from  "the  jaws  of  death,"  and 
having  passed  through  "the  gates  of  hell."  In  an  hour  I  had 
lived  a  lifetime,  and  life  itself  from  that  hour  was  a  different 
thing.  The  colors  of  the  Fourteenth  were  not  lost,  as  supposed,, 


TWIN   COLORS.  173 

for  four  men  saved,  guarded,  and  kept  them  on  the  fighting 
line  till  the  sun  set  on  victory  and  a  routed  enemy,  "whirling 
through  Winchester."  Those  men — all  from  my  Company  F, 
-all  from  my  native  town  —  were,  Charles  G.  Howard,  Henry  E. 
Baldwin,  Henry  A.  Wood,  and  the  writer.  We  were  not  dazed, 
not  bewildered,  but  uncertain.  The  sweat  of  battle  had  lim 
bered  us  well,  and  given  the  spirit  a  victory  over  fear.  We 
retreated  to  find  a  line,  for  at  that  time  the  colors  of  the  Four 
teenth  New  Hampshire  were  nearer  the  now  jubilant  Johnnies' 
than  any  others.  Howard  wanted  to  hunt  up  the  remnants  of 
•our  own  regiment,  but  I  insisted  that  the  attempt  was  useless, 
and  urged  turning  to  our  right,  as  we  retreated,  into  a  belt 
•of  timber  and  "falling  in"  with  some  other  regiment.  We 
were  all  anxious  to  keep  our  colors  in  the  fight  and  to  the  front 
•of  it.  We  enjoyed  the  full  opportunity  sought  for. 
,  Passing  along  the  rear  of  one  regiment  we  came  to  the  Eighth 
Vermont,  which  held  the  advance  line  of  the  Union  position. 
Your  history  tells  the  story  of  our  adoption.  The  initiatory 
rite  by  which  our  identity  with  you  for  the  day  was  sealed,  was 
a  genuine  baptism  of  blood  and  carnage,  the  enemy's  shells 
plunging  into  and  rending  the  ranks  at  the  moment  of  our 
"muster  in." 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  appearance  of  the  Eighth  as  we  first 
saw  you  there,  couchant,  in  the  verge  of  the  wood.  It  was 
the  terrible  majesty  of  a  readiness  for  conflict,  an  assurance  of 
tremendous  possibilities,  of  a  thorough  appreciation  of  the  situ 
ation,  a  coolness  that  was  awful  when  illumined  by  the  fire  in 
•every  eye  down  the  line.  That  line  testified  to  the  sublime 
energy  of  a  disciplined  body  of  men,  sure  to  obey  orders  and 
impatient  for  the  word. 

There  I  first  met  Stephen  Thomas,  and  now  I  need  not  force 
or  trim  a  sentence  to  gloss  his  reputation.  Fulsome  adulation 
•of  such  a  man  is  senseless  phrasing.  I  saw  him,  as  with  the 
ease  and  composure  of  a  veteran  fighter  he  gathered  for  heroic 
work ;  as  he  moved  his  line  out  into  that  open  field  which  had 
just  proved  so  fatal  to  the  first  line  of  attack;  as  he  moved 
under  the  quick,  hot  fire  of  the  foe  ;  as  with  excellent  judgment 


174  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

he  guided  his  regiment,  with  a  rapid  dash,  well  into  the  plain  ;. 
and  then,  —  "Halt!  lie  down!"  Still  on  hi«  horse,  he  swept 
the  field  with  accurate,  reconnoitring  eye.  Not  near  enough  to- 
the  vaunting  Johnnies,  —  not  yet  within  easy  range  of  those 
piled  up  rails  from  behind  which  belched  smoke  and  death, — 
the  line  must  be  pushed  out,  judiciously,  but  farther, —  "  Atten 
tion,  old  Vermont  ! " 

It  was  n't  a  "tiger  spring,"  nor  anything  of  the  sort,  but  it 
was  a  brilliant,  mighty  onsweep  of  a  well-handled,  eager  battal 
ion,  moving  with  an  intelligent,  irresistible  dash,  through  the 
hollow,  across  the  little  "run"  -just  far  enough,  for  when 
Thomas  was  under  fire  impetuosity  never  trampled  upon  judg 
ment.  For  two  hours  the  regiment  lay  there,  giving  and  taking 
in  well-borne  battle,  fighting  with  zest,  Col.  Thomas  scorning 
the  precautions  he  demanded  of  his  men.  On  that  field  he 
showed  that  personal  bravery,  military  talent,  and  the  power  to- 
command  men,  which  are  the  crowning  excellences  in  war. 
The  officers  and  men  were  welded  into  a  homogeneous  body,  an 
admirably  disciplined  force,  sensitive  to  the  controlling  will,— 
a  splendid  line  of  hardy,  heroic  fighters. 

In  this  connection  one  incident  of  that  afternoon  should  not 
drop  into  oblivion.  Some  sorely  wounded  men  lay  away  to 
the  front  between  the  lines  in  a  spot  crossed  by  the  fire  of  both 
armies.  Several  of  the  Eighth  asked  permission  to  go  to  the 
relief  of  their  suffering  comrades.  This  was  denied,  for  pru 
dential  reasons.  At  last  one  man  was  allowed  to  creep  out  on 
his  mission  of  alleviation,  but  "  on  his  own  responsibility,"  as. 
the  venture  was  worse  than  perilous.  It  was  a  plucky  act,  a 
noble  sacrifice  to  soldierly  charity.  I  did  not  learn  his  name 
or  fate. 

It  was  about  half-past  three  o'clock  when  the  rebel  fire  slack 
ened  in  front  of  the  Eighth,  and  most  of  the  men  were  brought 
to  their  feet  by  a  prolonged  cheer  half  a  mile  away,  to  our  rear 
and  right.  A  long  line  of  battle  was  sweeping  up  towards  the 
enemy's  left.  The  colors  of  the  battalions  in  the  advancing 
line,  for  a  moment,  aligned  on  those  of  the  Eighth  and  Four 
teenth,  and  we  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  splendid  emulation  of 


"STEADY,    OLD   VERMONT!"  175 

the  charge  as  one  regiment  vied  with  another,  making  undula 
tions  in  the  line  of  colors,  crowding  the  foe.  Now  comes  the 
crowning  triumph  of  the  Eighth  Vermont.  Thomas  under 
stood  the  situation  and  was  ready  for  the  emergency.  The 
story  of  that  charge  is  vividly  pictured  in  this  volume.  It  had 
much  to  do  with  the  success  of  the  day.  In  the  momentum  of  a 
magnificent  advance  the  regiment  was  carried  to  the  edge  of  the 
timber  which  had  just  previously  sheltered  the  rebel  line,  then 
through  the  timber  into  the  most  murderous  fire  of  the  day. 
But  it  was  the  last.  In  a  tempest  of  lead  Thomas  gathered  his 
command,  aligned  it,  and  was  ready  to  again  move  on,  but  the 
position  was  won, —  the  rebels  had  retreated  to  their  last  line. 

I  can  still  hear,  echoing  in  the  halls  of  memory,  that  clear, 
unwavering  voice  of  grand  command  :  "  Steady,  old  Vermont  !  " 
Vermont  was  there,  and  Vermont  was  steady;  and  the  best 
spirit  of  that  noble  state  breathed  that  day  in  the  voice  of 
Stephen  Thomas.  I  was  proud  to  grasp  his  hand  —  after 
twenty-one  years — on  the  very  spot  where,  in  the  emergency 
of  battle,  he  gave  us  his  benediction  as  we  left  you  to  restore  to 
our  own  Fourteenth  its  mourned-for  colors.  I  am  proud  of  the 
honor  accorded  me  of  assisting  Gen.  Thomas  and  Col.  Hill  in 
locating  on  that  field  your  monument,  marking  the  ground 
where  your  heroic  charge  culminated,  a  spot  forever  hallowed 
by  the  consecration  of  spirit  and  the  spilling  of  blood  by  the 
Eighth  Vermont ;  ground  made  beautifully  conspicuous  hence 
forth  by  a  monument  which  perpetuates  the  patriotic  devotion 
of  your  veterans,  and  the  noble  munificence  of  one  of  your 
worthiest  comrades. 

CAPT.    HOWARD'S   STORY. 

As  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  lay  in  camp  at  Berry ville, 
Va.,  on  Sunday,  September  i8th,  1864,  a  careful  observer  might 
have  noted  an  unusual  air  of  expectancy  in  their  faces  and  de 
meanor.  The  men,  many  of  them,  were  gathered  in  groups, 
engaged  in  grave  and  earnest  conversation.  Some  were  writing 
letters  to  parents,  brothers,  sisters,  wives,  and  sweethearts,. 


'i;6  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Others  did  those  last  things  which  thoughtful  men  are  apt  to 
do,  when  oppressed  with  a  presentiment  of  ^coming  evil.  The 
camp  was  remarkably  quiet,  and  every  countenance  wore  a  seri 
ous  aspect. 

This  unwonted  gravity  was  evidently  something  apart  from 
any  feeling  that  the  sanctity  of  the  day  would  be  likely  to  im 
pose,  and  to  a  civilian  the  cause  of  it  would  have  seemed  wholly 
inadequate.  No  startling  orders  had  been  issued,  nor  had  the 
apparent  relations  to  the  enemy  materially  changed.  Gen. 
•Grant  was  in  consultation,  that  was  all ;  but  to  the  expe 
rienced  soldier  the  presence  of  the  commander-in-chief  was  a 
grim  and  terrible  omen.  For  more  than  a  month  we  had 
been  apparently  playing  at  war.  When  the  enemy  retreated, 
we  advanced ;  when  he  advanced  in  force,  we  fell  back  to  Hall- 
town  and  entrenched  for  miles,  as  if  we  expected  to  withstand  a 
siege  ;  but  the  moment  the  enemy  withdrew  a  part  of  his  force 
in  our  front,  we  advanced  again.  Some  of  our  new  recruits 
thought  it  would  be  ever  thus,  and  the  wish  may  have  been 
father  to  the  thought.  But  the  Vermont  soldiers  were  thinking 
men,  and  those  who  had  seen  long  service  know  the  time  must 
be  near  at  hand  when  the  magnificent  army  under  Gen. 
Philip  H.  Sheridan  must  strike  a  masterly  blow  for  the  Union. 
Hence  there  were  many  grave  faces  in  the  camp  of  the  Eighth 
Regiment  that  bright  Sunday  morning.  Col.  Thomas,  desiring 
some  religious  service,  in  the  absence  of  a  chaplain,  called  on 
Quartermaster  Dewey,  who  read  an  appropriate  service  from 
'the  prayer-book.  We  believed,  we  hoped,  we  feared  the  time 
had  come. 

No  better  troops  ever  faced  a  cannon  than  ours.  Under  the 
leadership  of  our  gallant  Col.  Thomas,  the  bravest  man  I  ever 
saw,  we  had  never  flinched.  If  we  had  ever  felt  timid,  or 
desired  to  shirk  danger,  the  impulse  was  repressed  ;  for  no 
man  could  falter  under  the  calm  eye  of  Col.  Thomas.  We  had 
been  so  proud  of  his  leadership,  and  of  Gen.  Weitzel's  cordial 
.approval  of  our  conduct,  that  I  believe  the  fear  of  death  was  a 
secondary  consideration.  No  man,  unless  he  is  a  fool  or  brute, 
.goes  into  battle  without  very  grave  feelings  oppressing  him, 


MARCHING     TO    WINCHESTER.  177 

and  the  best  soldier  is  sometimes  terribly  frightened ;  but 
the  brave  man  is  he  who  so  holds  his  fears  in  subjection  as 
to  be  able  to  say,  and  prove  his  words,  "Death  before  dis 
honor  !  " 

History  tells  that  on  this  Sunday,  after  a  long  interview  with 
Sheridan,  in  which  he  found  him  fully  prepared  to  take  the 
aggressive,  and  only  waiting  the  order  to  attack  the  enemy, 
Gen.  Grant  gave  him  the  order  in  two  words  :  "  Go  in."  Late 
in  the  afternoon  we  received  command  to  be  ready  to  move  in 
light  marching  order  at  two  o'clock  Monday  morning,  equipped 
with  two  days'  cooked  rations  and  a  hundred  rounds  of  car 
tridges  to  each  man. 

At  the  appointed  time  the  march  was  begun  under  cover  of 
the  darkness,  and  as  we  filed  out  of  camp  the  column  turned 
toward  Winchester.  While  halting  for  a  little  rest  just  after 
daybreak,  we  first  heard  that  sound  which  I  believe  strikes  a 
chill  through  the  bravest  man  that  lives,  and  causes  him  to 
feel  that  his  heart  is  sinking  down,  down,  till  it  seems  to  drop 
into  his  boots.  I  mean  the  dull  rustling  of  air  which  is  hardly 
more  than  a  vibration,  but  which  to  the  experienced  listener 
betokens  artillery  firing  at  a  distance.  When  one  expects  soon 
to  join  in  the  exercises,  that  signal  is  not  inspiriting.  As  we 
advanced,  the  sound  grew  more  distinct  and  ominous.  Pressing 
forward  at  a  rapid  march  we  entered  a  deep,  wooded  gorge,  and 
while  there  got  the  order  to  quick-step  and  then  to  double- 
quick,  while  the  noise  of  fierce  strife  beyond  and  out  of  the 
woods  gave  a  fearful  meaning  to  the  haste  with  which  we  were 
urged  forward.  In  this  defile  was  established  a  hospital ;  and 
as  the  regiment  passed,  we  saw  the  surgeons  taking  out  and 
examining  the  bright,  keen  knives  ;  and  on  a  table  was  a  victim 
undergoing  amputation  of  the  leg,  while  other  mangled  men, 
and  pools  of  blood,  showed  too  plainly  what  was  going  on  at  the 
front.  I  must  confess  to  "  feeling  pale  "  at  that  sickening  sight, 
and  I  distinctly  saw  the  men  turn  a  shade  whiter  as  they 
hurried  on.  I  believe  it  was  a  mistake,  locating  the  hospital 
where  the  men  must  see  these  sights  before  going  into  action. 


178  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

And  now  let  me  sketch  briefly  the  plan  of  battle,  and  the 
events  that  had  already  transpired.  The  ravkie  through  which 
we  were  passing  led  to  a  steep  and  thickly-wooded  crest, 
beyond  which  lay  an  irregular,  rolling  valley,  on  the  further 
side  of  which  was  the  enemy's  stronghold,  formed  by  a  heavy 
belt  of  woods  in  the  centre,  which  was  amply  fortified,  and  a 
series  of  bluffs  or  heights  extending  to  right  and  left,  and  at  one 
point  by  a  long  ledge  of  rock,  all  forming  a  complete  natural 
protection  for  troops.  In  the  background  rose  the  heights  of 
Winchester.  Early's  army  lay  diagonally  across  the  mouth  of 
the  ravine,  through  which  our  army  must  pass,  his  left  being 
held  nearer  the  gorge  than  his  right,  with  the  evident  purpose, 
as  developed  by  his  actions,  to  let  a  part  of  our  army  through, 
and  then,  by  throwing  his  whole  weight  upon  it,  to  crush  it 
before  the  remainder  could  be  made  available.  He  came  fear 
fully  near  success. 

Sheridan's  plan  of  attack,  as  carried  out,  was  to  hold  this 
gorge  at  all  hazard,  fight  the  enemy's  centre  sharply  so  as  to 
draw  from  his  left,  and  then  with  the  Eighth  Corps  and  the 
cavalry  crush  his  left.  In  obedience  to  this  plan  Grover's  sec 
ond  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  (our  corps),  and  Ricketts's 
division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  had  been  pushed  forward  over  the 
steep  hills  and  through  the  thick  woods,  beyond  which  was  a 
rolling  valley,  at  the  farther  edge  of  which  lay  the  rebel  strength. 
Struggling  through  this  thick  forest,  in  face  of  a  heavy  artillery 
fire,  the  lines  emerged  under  a  fierce  fire  of  musketry.  But 
with  great  impetuosity  t'hey  swept  across  the  valley,  and  strik 
ing  the  enemy  heavily  near  his  centre,  forced  him  back  some 
five  hundred  yards,  and  for  the  time  seemed  likely  to  end  the 
battle  then  and  there. 

But  Early's  strongest  troops  were  massed  at  that  point,  and, 
at  the  moment  when  the  victory  seemed  almost  won,  a  large 
body  of  the  enemy  suddenly  appeared  and  attacked  our  two 
divisions  with  great  fury ;  and,  to  add  to  their  discomfiture,  not 
only  was  the  attack  made  in  front,  but  their  advanced  position 
exposed  them  to  a  heavy  enfilading  fire  from  both  flanks  of 
the  enemy.  They  fought  most  stubbornly,  as  the  dead  and 


UNDER   WITHERING  FIRE. 

wounded  on  both  sides  testified,  but  their  position  was  simply 
untenable,  and  they  were  forced  back  towards  the  gorge. 
From  a  retreat  their  repulse  soon  became  almost  a  rout ;  and 
it  was  only  by  the  most  desperate  and  gallant  exertions  of 
general,  staff,  and  field  officers,  that  organizations  were  held 
together  at  all,  and  in  some  instances  even  these  efforts  failed 
for  the  time  being. 

It  was  just  at  this  juncture  that,  after  having  been  held  in 
reserve  for  a  few  minutes,  we  were  moved  to  the  right  and 
formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  slope  of  the  thick  wooded  crest. 
Ours  was  the  second  brigade  in  the  first  division,  and  in  mili 
tary  experience  I  have  never  seen  a  situation  more  appalling 
than  was  presented  at  the  time  our  reserve  was  called  into 
action.  The  enemy  was  pressing  heavily  with  both  artillery 
and  infantry,  and  the  ground  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and 
dying,  for  both  forces  had  been  driven  over  it.  Commanders 
were  making  heroic,  but,  for  the  most  part,  vain  efforts  to  stem 
the  tide,  which  seemed  to  be  surely  setting  against  us.  Amid 
this  confusion  and  disaster,  our  division  moved  forward  under 
cover  of  the  trees.  It  was  a  thick  wood,  but  the  shot  and  shell 
screamed  fearfully  ;  yet  our  line  advanced  handsomely.  A  shell 
bursting  near  our  colors  killed  two  men  and  wounded  several 
others,  and  just  then  the  whole  regimental  line  seemed  to  recoil 
from  the  terrible  fire  to  which  it  was  exposed,  but  recovered 
in  a  moment  under  Col.  Thomas's  stentorian  "  Steady,  men  !  " 
Lieut.  Col.  Button,  while  gallantly  urging  forward  the  men,  had 
his  arm  shattered  by  a  musket  shot,  and  was  taken  off  the 
field. 

At  this  point  we  reached  the  border  of  the  wooded  crest,  and 
looked  out  upon  the  valley  and  the  stronghold  beyond.  The 
fire  was  withering,  —  scorching ;  and  here  occurred  one  of 
those  cool,  brave  actions  which  no  soldier  who  saw  it  can  ever 
forget.  Above  the  roar  of  the  battle  a  murmur  was  heard.  It 
was  not  a  cheer,  nor  was  it  a  shout,  but  more  an  exclamation 
of  surprise  and  admiration,  as,  mounted  on  his  dapple  gray,  with 
hat  and  bridle-rein  in  his  left  hand,  his  unsheathed  sword  at 


ISO  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

"attention,"  and  moving  at  a  moderate  walk  in  front  of  the  line, 
rode  our  grand  old  corps  commander,  Gen.  Emory.  Without  a 
word,  with  a  perfectly  calm  and  unmoved  Demeanor,  like  a 
statue  of  stone,  but  with  his  eyes  keenly  scanning  the  ranks, 
he  passed  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other,  while  the  terri 
ble  storm  of  death  pelted  pitilessly  about  him.  The  effect  was 
electric  and  wonderful,  and  the  weakest  man  among  us  felt 
that  he  could  and  would  dare  anything  after  this  brave  act  of 
the  old  soldier.  Men  who  doubted  a  moment  before,  knew  now 
that  we  should  advance  and  succeed. 

Half-way  between  this  crest  and  the  strong  point  of  timber 
held  by  the  enemy,  a  weak  line  of  infantry  which  had  been 
saved  from  the  wreck  lay  on  the  ground  firing  feebly,  while  the 
enemy  crowded  overwhelmingly  upon  it.  This  line  must  be 
relieved,  and  two  regiments,  the  Eighth  Vermont  and  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  were  ordered  for  the  work.  As  we 
emerged  from  the  border  of  the  forest  upon  the  open  ground, 
we  were  greeted  with  a  shower  of  lead  and  iron  ;  but  our  blood 
was  up,  no  one  looked  back,  and  we  rushed  into  position. 
This  position  we  held  more  than  three  hours  under  a  continu 
ous  and  heavy  fire  of  musketry.  We  were  apparently  some 
what  protected  by  the  rolling  nature  of  the  ground,  but  the 
bullets  of  the  enemy  often  found  us  out,  and  occasionally  a  man 
was  hit.  Company  I  especially  suffered,  being  in  a  more 
exposed  position  than  the  most  of  the  line. 

Many  acts  of  personal  daring  occurred  during  that  three 
hours'  work.  Many  of  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  armies 
lay  close  to  us,  and  at  imminent  risk  to  their  own  lives  our  men 
relieved  the  sufferers,  both  friend  and  foe,  with  a  drink  of  water 
or  a  lift  into  an  easier  position. 

During  the  first  hour  stray  bullets  kept  coming  from  our 
left,  enfilading  our  line,  and  causing  much  nervousness  ;  for  a 
soldier,  however  bravely  he  may  endure  the  shots  in  front,  can 
not  bear  with  composure  a  flank  fire.  Taking  a  gun  from  one 
of  the  slain,  one  of  our  officers  passed  down  to  the  left  of  our 
regiment  and  watched  for  this  cross-fire,  and  soon  saw  three 
rebels  in  a  clump  of  bushes  at  long  range.  Resting  his  rifle 


A    PRAYER   AND   A    CHARGE.  l8l 

on  a  stump  he  waited  till  one  showed  himself  again,  when  he 
fired,  and  then  called  the  attention  of  several  men  to  the  clump, 
desiring  them  also  to  watch.  Soon  two  of  the  men  were  seen 
carrying  off  the  third,  when  the  squad  fired  at  them,  and  there 
was  an  end  of  the  pestering  cross-fire. 

Three  o'clock  came,  and  with  it  the  supreme  moment. 
The  Eighth  Corps  under  Gen.  Crook  had  gained  a  position  on 
our  right,  from  which  to  crush  the  enemy's  left.  A  general 
advance  was  ordered  ;  but  the  line  in  front  of  us  being  consid 
ered  too  strong  to  charge,  Col.  Thomas  had  been  ordered  to 
hold  his  position  until  the  advance  had  been  made  on  either 
side.  Suddenly  on  our  right  burst  forth  the  deep,  fierce  yell 
our  soldiers  uttered  when  going  in  to  win.  It  continued  some 
moments,  and  at  the  same  time  there  burst  upon  our  ears  the 
sound  of  the  most  continuous  and  terrible  fire  of  musketry  I 
had  ever  heard.  Looking  in  the  direction  of  the  sounds  we 
saw  Crook's  line  advancing.  It  was  magnificent  but  terrible ; 
moving  in  quick  time  with  banners  unfurled,  and  firing  rapidly 
by  file,  they  marched  upon  our  right  and  flung  their  columns  on 
the  hidden  foe.  The  carnage  was  awful.  Men  could  be  dis 
tinctly  seen  dropping  from  the  ranks,  and  the  field  was  strewn 
with  the  dead  and  wounded  in  their  rear ;  but  the  line  never 
faltered,  never  wavered. 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  advance  Col.  Thomas  was  in  the 
saddle,  and  said,  "We  ought  to  drive  them  out  of  the  woods." 
But  the  orders  were  to  remain  where  he  was.  As  the  success 
ful  charge  swept  on,  he  could  stand  it  no  longer,  and  forget 
ting  everything  except  his  determination  to  take  the  woods, 
he  rode  in  front  of  the  colors  and  shouted  :  "  Boys,  if  you 
ever  pray,  the  time  to  pray  has  come.  Pray  now,  remem 
ber  Ethan  Allen  and  old  Vermont,  and  we  '11  drive  'em  to 
hell !  Come  on,  old  Vermont  ! "  And  with  his  sword  held 
aloft  he  headed  his  horse  for  the  wood,  and  gave  him  the 
spur.  Some  officers  might  have  looked  back  to  see  if  their 
men  were  following,  but  Col.  Thomas  knew  his  "boys  "  would 
not  flinch,  and,  as  he  rode  rapidly  toward  the  wood,  with  the 


1 82  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

panting,  yelling  regiment  close  to  his  heels,  the  Twelfth  Con 
necticut  could  not  stand  it  to  see  us  charging  away  from  them, 
while  they  remained  behind.  Their  commander,  Col.  Peck, 
had  been  killed  early  in  the  action,  but  Capt.  Clark  stepped  into 
his  place  ;  and  as  we  moved  rapidly  away,  he  shouted  :  "The 

Eighth  Vermont  is  going  to  the  d 1,  but  they  shan't  go 

ahead  of  us  !  "  and  on  they  came.  It  was  grand, —  glorious  ! 
Nothing  could  stand  against  us,  and  we  swept  over  the  works 
and  into  the  woods  in  advance  of  everything,  driving  the 
enemy  before  us  in  great  confusion. 

In  this  wood  were  great  numbers  of  the  dead  of  both  armies, 
and  many  of  our  wounded.  Lying  propped  against  a  tree  and 
mortally  wounded,  was  Lieut.  Col.  Babcock  of  the  Seventy- 
fifth  New  York,  well  known  and  beloved  by  our  regiment. 
One  poor  fellow  wearing  the  blue  lay  flat  on  his  back,  but 
waved  his  cap  and  looked  as  happy  as  if  his  leg  had  not  been 
shattered  with  a  shell.  Knowing  that  our  colonel  had  not  been 
ordered  to  charge,  several  superior  officers  tried  in  vain  to  stop 
him,  and  Gen.  McMillan  rode  up  and  down  the  line  shouting 
"  Halt !  "  at  the  top  of  his  lungs.  But  by  that  time  we  had 
fairly  carried  the  woods,  and  there  was  no  halt  in  us. 

As  we  reached  the  farther  edge  of  the  wood,  a  new  phase 
appeared.  The  Eighth  Corps  was  hammering  the  enemy's  left, 
and  his  line  of  battle  was  gradually  swinging  around  diagonally 
to  ours.  The  rebels  were  still  fighting  desperately,  but  were 
receiving  terrible  loss.  A  battery  on  our  left  front  and  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  away,  was  delivering  a 
rapid  diagonal  fire  in  our  front.  We  all  supposed  it  to  be  one 
of  our  own  batteries.  Gen.  Upton,  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  rode  up 
and  ordered  Col.  Thomas  to  fire  upon  it.  Col.  Thomas  refused, 
saying  it  was  our  battery.  Upton  was  earnest  and  Thomas  firm, 
and  some  high  words  passed  between  them,  when  the  smoke 
lifted,  and  there  close  to  the  battery  was  the  '  rebel  flag. 
Instantly  Col.  Thomas  gave  the  order  :  "  Fire  on  that  battery  !  " 
and  the  shots  were  poured  in  with  such  terrible  effect  that  it 
was  instantly  silenced ;  and  after  the  battle  the  slain  and 
wounded  testified  to  the  fatal  accuracy  of  our  aim. 


DESCENT    OF    THE    CAVALRY.  183 

At  this  time  the  Sixth  Corps  came  up  on  our  left.  The  Con 
federates  were  fighting  the  Eighth  Corps  from  their  left  front, 
and  the  Nineteenth  and  Sixth  Corps  from  their  right  and  right 
flank.  Their  situation  was  most  desperate,  and  most  despe 
rately  were  they  struggling ;  but  their  fight  was  over.  Crookr 
with  his  Eighth  Corps,  gallantly  charged  the  high  ground  on 
the  enemy's  left,  his  last  stronghold.  From  our  position  we 
could  distinctly  see  the  lines  of  the  assault,  and  hear  the  crash 
of  the  combat,  and  then  the  cheer  of  our  victorious  men. 

Then,  as  if  the  fates  had  conspired  to  make  the  enemy's 
defeat  complete  and  terrible,  our  cavalry  under  Torbert  and 
Custer  appeared  on  the  scene.  A  long  stretch  of  open  ground 
sloped  up  to  a  crest  to  the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy.  We  had 
advanced,  and  were  sheltered  from  a  lively  spurt  of  firing  behind 
a  stone  wall.  Capt.  Mead  shouted,  "  Boys,  look  at  that ! " 
We  did  look,  and  saw  a  sight  to  be  remembered  a  lifetime.  In 
solid  columns,  with  drawn  sabres  flashing  in  the  sun,  and  with 
out  firing  a  shot,  down  from  the  crest  in  the  left  rear  of  the 
enemy  came  a  brigade  of  troopers,  and  burst  at  a  gallop  upon 
the  surprised  enemy.  It  was  like  a  thunder-clap  out  of  a  clear 
sky,  and  the  bolt  struck  home.  The  entire  left  of  the  enemy's 
line  broke  in  utter  confusion  and  fled  in  perfect  rout.  No  man 
ever  saw  a  more  thrilling  sight  than  that  cavalry  charge. 

The  work  was  done.  Line  after  line  moved  forward  at  a  run 
in  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy.  Battery  after  battery  galloped 
up  and  blazed  away,  then  limbered  up  and  was  after  them  again. 
The  enemy  was  driven  before  us  like  a  flock  of  frightened 
sheep.  Generals  Sheridan,  Emory,  and  Crook,  were  in  the 
front  lines  directing  everything.  Gen.  Sheridan  looked  as 
happy  as  a  schoolboy.  As  he  passed  our  regiment  the  men 
burst  into  a  spontaneous  cheer,  and  he  swung  his  hat  about 
his  head  and  shouted  :  "  Boys,  it  is  just  what  I  expected ! "  Gen. 
Emory  looked  just  as  happy,  and  no  more  so,  as  he  did  in  the 
morning,  when  he  rode  bareheaded  down  our  lines  under  a 
storm  of  shot  and  shell.  His  face  was  as  grim  and  impassive 
as  ever,  and  when  we  cheered  him,  he  just  raised  his  hat  and 
galloped  away  to  the  front,  where  the  fire  seemed  hottest. 


1 84  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

For  three  miles  we  chased  them  just  like  this.  Cheer  after 
cheer  rang  along  our  lines,  as  we  went  forward  at  a  double- 
quick  to  give  one  blow  more,  and  the  artillery  ^seemed  to  boom 
joyfully  as  it  hurled  shells  among  the  traitor  crew.  And  thus, 
as  Gen.  Sheridan  in  his  dispatch  said,  "We  just  sent  them 
whirling  through  Winchester."  Thus  ended  Sheridan's  Battle 
of  Winchester. 

The  results  of  this  battle,  in  captures,  as  gathered  on  the 
spot  or  during  the  next  day's  pursuit,  were  five  cannon,  fifteen 
battle  flags,  between  six  thousand  and  seven  thousand  small  arms, 
and  three  thousand  prisoners.  Three  thousand  of  the  enemy's 
wounded  were  left  on  the  field  or  in  the  town  of  Winchester,  or 
on  the  road  between  there  and  Strasburg.  Horace  Greeley's 
history  puts  the  figures  thus  :  "  Our  loss  in  this  battle  was 
fully  three  thousand,  including  Gen.  David  A.  Russell,  killed, 
with  Gens.  Mclntosh,  Chapman,  and  Upton,  wounded.  The 
heroic  Nineteenth  Corps  —  on  which  fell  che  brunt  of  the  fight 
—  alone  lost  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty,  killed  and 
wounded."  The  enemy's  entire  loss,  including  stragglers  and 
deserters,  must  have  been  at  least  seven  thousand  men.  To 
this  should  be  added  the  important  fact  that  the  prestige  of  the 
rebels  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah  was  completely  broken. 

COL.    HILL'S    STORY. 

A  BRIEF  sketch  of  the  experience  of  a  single  regiment  for  a 
few  hours  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  as  observed  by  one  of 
their  number,  will  serve  to  show  what  thousands  of  other  men 
in  other  regiments  were  realizing  and  enduring  at  the  same 
time. 

The  night  before  the  battle  finds  us  occupying  the  rifle-pits 
on  the  Winchester  pike,  near  Berryville.  The  men  are  quietly 
cooking  their  rations  for  supper.  For  weeks  the  army  under 
Sheridan  has  been  marching  swiftly  up  and  down  the  valley, 
face  to  face  with  the  rebel  army,  without  coming  to  any  deci 
sive  engagement.  Now,  just  before  the  sun  goes  down  behind 
the  hills,  a  cannon  shot  is  heard.  Well,  what  of  it?  To  an  old 


AN   EARLY   BREAKFAST.  185 

soldier  a  single  cannon  shot  is  not  an  unusual  occurrence. 
But,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  in  war  a  single  shot  is  sometimes 
the  signal  to  great  carnage,  when  under  different  circum 
stances  one  hundred  shots  would  hardly  receive  a  passing 
notice.  A  cannon  shot,  and  the  men  look  up  and  into  each 
other's  faces.  My  old  friend  and  classmate,  Walter  Pierce,  is 
sitting  at  my  side,  and  Lieut.  Downs  is  also  at  hand.  Not  a 
word  is  spoken  until  comrade  Pierce  breaks  the  silence  by 
saying  :  "  Hill,  will  you  take  my  diary,  pocket-book,  and  little 
Testament  which  uncle  gave  me,  and  send  them  home,  if  I  am 
killed  ? "  Strange  premonition !  but  it  follows  him  to  his 
death.  I  endeavor  to  disabuse  his  mind  of  such  an  idea,  but 
with  not  a  particle  of  success  :  the  cannon  shot  tells  him  only 
of  death. 

The  little  tents  are  quickly  down  and  rolled  up,  and  soon  the 
men  are  in  line.  But  they  soon  dropped  down  on  their 
rifles  for  the  night,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at 
a  moment's  notice.  Some  sleep  soundly,  while  others  toss 
restlessly,  and  their  slumbers  are  disturbed,  for  it  is  the  last 
fitful  slumber  before  their  long  sleep  of  death.  Between  two 
and  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  making  a  hasty  break 
fast  of  hardtack  and  coffee,  the  hurried  march  for  the  battle 
field  is  begun.  Amid  the  booming  of  cannon,  Abraham's 
creek  and  the  old  red  mill  are  passed,  and  then  a  little  stream 
through  which  artillery,  horses,  and  men  are  rushed,  the 
muddy,  disturbed  water  being  scooped  up  by  hand  and  cup  to 
cool  the  parched  lips  of  the  hurrying  soldiers.  We  now 
•enter  a  deep,  narrow  ravine,  through  which  our  cavalry  has 
passed  before  us,  and  desperately  engaged  the  enemy  on  the 
battlefield  above  us.  The  wounded  men  are  being  brought 
back  into  this  gorge.  The  ground  is  literally  strewn  with  men, 
perhaps  our  own  neighbors,  who  a  few  hours  ago  were  as  sound 
in  body  and  limb  as  ourselves,  but  are  now  torn  and  mangled. 

We  hurry  on.  Occasionally  a  man  attempts  a  jest  or  joke  to 
turn  the  thoughts  ;  but  it  seems  only  hollow  mockery.  Verily, 
this  is  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  We  reach  and  climb 
the  high  bluffs,  and  Winchester  plains  are  spread  out  before  us. 


1 86  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

The  line  of  battle  is  formed.  We  march  to  our  position  in  the 
fight  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock.  The  rebels  are  in  the  field 
and  woods  in  front,  but  we  cannot  see  them,  distinctly.  Their 
cannon  fire  shell  and  solid  shot.  A  shell  comes  crashing  into 
our  midst,  literally  throwing  one  man  into  the  air,  taking  the 
leg  off  another,  and  tearing  open  the  abdomen  of  a  poor  fellow,, 
so  that  his  backbone  protrudes  in  a  shocking  manner.  It  is 
useless  to  fire,  for  we  can  see  only  smoke.  One  of  our 
batteries  of  six  pieces  is  stationed  a  little  to  our  left,  exposed 
to  a  terrible  fire  from  the  enemy.  Spiteful  puffs  of  smoke  are 
seen  constantly  over  the  guns  and  horses,  and  rebel  shells 
are  bursting.  The  horses  rear  and  plunge,  and  occasionally 
one  falls,  or  is  cut  loose  by  the  bursting  shells.  The  artillery 
men  flit  like  spirits  from  caisson  to  gun,  while  cannon  belch 
forth  their  death  missiles,  then  recoil  ten  or  fifteen  feet.  A 
man  drops  dead  here  and  there,  or  crawls  away  wounded  and 
bleeding.  This  is  the  Fifth  Maine  Battery. 

We  are  under  fire,  but  not  firing  ourselves.  Some  of  the 
men  laugh,  possibly  one  weeps  ;  the  face  of  another  is  pale  as 
death  ;  his  next  neighbor's  is  flushed  ;  one  man  swears  a  fearful 
oath,  while  his  right-hand  man  is  praying  silently;  the  next  is 
excited,  fretful,  and  crowding.  Here  and  there  one  is  calm  and 
cool,  as  if  marching  in  review  before  his  commander.  There 
is  absolute  equality  for  the  time  being.  All  are  on  the  same 
plane,  so  to  speak,  the  rich  and  poor,  the  high  and  the  low,  the 
learned  and  the  unlearned.  The  minie  ball  and  the  screeching 
shell  make  no  distinction,  but  plough  their  cruel  furrows  until 
exhausted,  or  pass  on  like  invisible  fiends. 

We  move  to  the  right,  over  a  rolling  field,  then  forward 
again  under  heavy  fire  into  a  sheltering  timber.  The  bullets 
spatter  against  the  trees  and  glance  off,  and  then  a  sharp  cry 
of  pain  is  heard.  Shells  tear  through  the  tops  of  the  trees 
overhead,  severing  the  limbs,  which  drop  upon  the  men  below. 
On  again,  through  the  timber  to  the  opening,  and  we  see  the 
line  of  battle  we  are  to  relieve.  It  is  being  literally  cut  to 
pieces  by  the  enemy  which  is  massed  in  the  woods  in  front. 
Into  this  fatal  clearing  and  beyond,  the  brigades  of  Birge,. 


THE    LEADEN  HAIL.  187 

Molineux,  and  Sharpe,  of  the  second  division,  had  gallantly 
charged  and  been  driven  back  with  great  slaughter.  Wounded 
men  and  fragments  of  decimated  regiments  are  passing  back 
through  our  line  to  the  rear.  The  flags  of  an  almost  annihilated 
New  Hampshire  regiment  of  Birge's  brigade  approaches,  and 
Col.  Thomas  instantly  adopts  them  with  the  quick  indorsement 
of  Gen.  Dwight,  only  a  few  feet  away  with  Gen.  Emory,  who 
said,  "  Yes,  fall  in  with  the  Eighth  Vermont ;  I  '11  guarantee  you 
will  be  taken  care  of  there." 

Now  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  of  our 
brigade,  is  hastily  ordered  off  to  fill  a  gap  elsewhere,  while  the 
Forty-seventh  Pennsylvania  is  used  in  connection  with  the 
first  brigade  of  our  division. 

We  can  see  squads  of  the  enemy  crowding  out  from  the 
woods  toward  us.  Thin  clouds  of  white  smoke  rise  rapidly 
from  the  muzzles  of  Molineux's  rifles,  as  his  men  valiantly 
continue  their  desperate  struggle.  We  are  needed  at  once,  and 
on  the  double-quick  we  rush  forward  nearly  across  the  bare  field, 
greeted  by  a  fierce  wail  of  musketry  from  the  second  woods, 
while  the  remnant  of  Molineux's  line  we  relieve,  rises  from  the 
ground  and  passes  quickly  back  to  the  timber  we  have  left.  The 
Twelfth  Connecticut  is  soon  sent  to  our  support  and  stationed  at 
our  right.  Our  fresh  volleys  come  none  too  soon,  but  they  are 
heeded,  and  the  enemy's  advance  is  checked  in  our  front.  A 
tall  man  near  me  receives  a  bad  gash  in  his  forehead  ;  the 
crimson  blood  flows  down  his  face  and  bosom.  Another  has 
his  chin  shot  away,  leaving  his  tongue  dangling  exposed 
over  fyis  throat.  Both  must  probably  die ;  but  life  is  dear, 
and  with  a  beseeching,  parting  look,  they  crawl  back  to  the 
rear  and  from  my  sight  forever,  but  their  faces  are  imprinted 
in  my  memory. 

We  are  in  an  open  field.  The  enemy  are  strongly  posted  in 
the  woods  only  a  few  rods  in  front,  and  nothing  between  them 
and  us  but  thin  Virginia  grass.  What  a  change  comes  over  the 
men.  No  more  of  that  strange,  helpless  feeling.  Now  every 
man  can  fight  for  himself.  All  fear  is  gone;  in  grim  silence 
the  men  load  their  guns  while  lying  on  their  i>acks,  rise  quickly 


1 88  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

to  their  feet,  glance  across  the  gleaming  barrel,  and  fire.  The 
first  man  to  die  on  this  spot  is  Walter  Pierce,  who  had  the 
strange  presentiment  about  the  cannon  §hot  last  night.  A 
minie  bullet  strikes  his  face  as  he  rises  to  fire  for  the  third  or 
fourth  time.  Not  a  word  escapes  his  lips  as  he  falls  lifeless  to 
the  earth. 

In  front  and  rear  Confederate  and  Union  batteries  are  firing 
over  our  heads.  The  shells  have  an  awful,  unearthly,  hissing 
sound,  like  the  terrible  rush  of  escaping  steam  from  a  boiler, 
only  a  thousand  times  greater.  A  desolating  fire  of  musketry 
sweeps  across  the  exposed  ground  we  occupy,  the  bullets  sound 
ing  like  angry  hornets,  as  they  cut  the  air  so  close  to  the  face 
as  to  be  felt.  Men  tear  a  cartridge  and  ram  home  the  ball,  and 
speak  to  their  comrades  about  home  or  matters  of  interest  a 
thousand  miles  away.  Now  amid  the  roar,  word  is  passed  along 
that  Charlie  Blood  is  killed.  He  falls  with  a  single  exclamation. 
Another  is  wounded,  and  we  wonder  who  will  be  the  next,  when 
Corporal  James  Black  settles  slowly  to  the  ground.  A  friendly 
hand  instantly  reaches  out  to  his  relief,  but  too  late  ;  his  spirit 
has  flown.  And  still  the  ugly  work  goes  on.  Col.  Thomas,  our 
commander,  sits  like  a  statue  on  his  horse,  refusing  to  dismount, 
seemingly  bearing  a  charmed  life,  encouraging  the  men  within 
sound  of  his  voice.  Capt.  Francis  E.  Warren  is  at  my  side,  and 
has  partly  risen  to  his  feet  to  watch  the  rebel  movements,  when 
a  bullet  enters  the  socket  of  his  eye,  and  comes  out  near  his  ear. 
With  a  groan  he  bows  his  head  between  his  knees,  and  drops  at 
my  feet.  The  next  to  fall  is  Edmund  Fisher,  a  man  past  fifty 
years  of  age,  and  never  yet  absent  from  his  post  of  duty^.  He 
rises  deliberately,  takes  careful  aim,  and  fires  his  last  shot ;  a 
rebel  bullet  pierces  his  right  hip.  He  exclaims  "I  'm  killed! 
I  'm  killed  !  My  home  !  my  home  !  "  I  hastily  examine  his 
wound,  and  find  the  ball  protruding  from  the  hip  bone.  With 
my  thumb  and  finger  I  press  the  bullet  out  and  show  it  to  him. 
He  is  so  delighted  to  find  his  hurt  so  slight  that  he  draws  up 
his  paralyzed  limb  to  hobble  away.  In  vain  I  advise  him  that  to 
needlessly  expose  himself  as  a  target  will  be  sure  death.  He 
rises  slowly  to  his,  feet,  takes  one  anxious  step  to  the  rear,  I 


TWO    BRAVE    SERGEANTS.  189- 

distinctly  hear  a  dull  thud,  as  the  leaden  death  messenger 
enters  his  back,  and  he  falls  a  dead  man. 

Then  an  incident  occurs  which  I  shall  always  remember 
with  peculiar  interest.  Our  rifles  become  so  hot  and  foul  from 
constant  and  rapid  use,  that  we  are  obliged  to  abandon  them 
and  take  others  from  the  dead  soldiers  lying  within  reach. 
But  our  ammunition  is  giving  out,  and  Sergeants  Henry  Downs 
and  Lamb  volunteer  to  cross  the  open  field  to  our  rear  for  more, 
and  soon  return  with  a  fresh  supply ;  but  none  too  soon,  for 
the  lull  in  our  firing  is  evidently  taken  advantage  of,  and  the 
rebels  swarm  out  from  the  woods  and  charge  towards  us  with 
wild  yells.  But  they  are  quickly  driven  back  by  the  fierce 
volleys  along  our  line.  Company  I  is  losing  heavily ;  four  of 
their  men  are  shot  dead,  and  the  captain  falls  and  is'  supposed 
to  be  dying.  A  bullet  strikes  Sergt.  Thorn,  glances,  and 
wounds  Corporal  Eddy,  and  others  are  wounded.  Three  times, 
after  continued  firing,  our  ammunition  is  exhausted,  and  Col. 
Thomas  calls  for  volunteers  to  go  for  more  cartridges,  exposed 
to  a  raking  fire.  Downs  and  Lamb  nobly  respond. 

The  First  Brigade,  having  repulsed  the  foe  in  their  own  front,, 
have  moved  back  to  the  woods  as  a  reserve,  and  the  Eighth 
Vermont  and  Twelfth  Connecticut  are  now  alone  on  this 
advanced  line.  Upton's  troops  of  the  Sixth  Corps  are  on  our 
left,  with  quite  an  interval  between  us.  It  is  three  o'clock. 
The  enemy  are  pressing  out  towards  us  from  the  woods 
in  front,  and  a  crisis  approaches.  Our  slender  line  cannot, 
without  plenty  of  ammunition,  hold  out  against  a  charge  accom 
panied  by  heavy  volleys.  At  this  moment,  some  distance  to  our 
right  and  rear,  great  cheering  is  heard,  and  we  discover  a  body 
of  troops  advancing  in  magnificent  array  in  solid  column,,  with 
banners  flying  aloft,  and  moving  rapidly  up,  with  intent,  as  we 
suppose,  to  take  position  on  our  right  as  reinforcements  to  our 
thin  line.  It  is  Col.  Thoburn's  division  of  Crook's  corps,  and 
as  the  solid  column  advances,  the  terrible  flank  fire  from  the 
enemy  in  our  front  mows  them  down  like  grain,  leaving  literally 
a  swath  of  dead  in  their  wake. 

In  the  meantime,  while  we  are  watching  with  such  intense 


1 90  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

interest  this  wondrous  sight,  Col.  Thomas  is  not  idle.  The 
moment  the  enemy's  fire  is  turned  away  from  us,  he  takes  upon 
himself  the  responsibility,  and  makes  a  daring  move  on  the 
checker-board  of  war.  He  sees  an  opportunity  to  hurl  two 
veteran  regiments  like  a  thunderbolt  against  the  enemy,  which 
is  concentrating  every  available  gun  to  break  Crook's  exposed 
flanks.  "  Boys,"  says  he,  "  what  we  can't  give  them  for 
want  of  powder  and  ball,  we  '11  make  up  in  cold  steel.  Fix 
bayonets."  It  gives  one  a  peculiar  sensation  to  hear  the 
sharp  rattle  of  steel,  and  the  whole  scene  changes.  It  is  ugly 
work,  but  the  regiment  is  up  and  ready  for  the  conflict.  Col. 
Thomas  walks  in  front  of  his  own  regiment,  and  talks  tenderly 
with  the  men,  as  though  they  were  of  his  own  flesh  and  blood. 
He  passes  down  in  front  of  the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  whose 
colonel  has  been  killed,  and  asks  the  officer  in  command  if 
he  and  his  men  are  ready  to  join  the  Eighth  Vermont  in 
a  bayonet  charge.  Many  of  the  men  respond  by  springing 
to  their  feet.  The  captain  explains  that  his  ammunition  is 
exhausted.  "  So  is  mine,"  said  Col.  Thomas.  "Three  times 
my  regiment  has  fired  the  last  cartridge."  "  So  has  the  Eighth 
Vermont,"  said  their  gallant  old  leader.  Then  walking  back,  he 
determines  to  lead  his  own  regiment  to  the  charge,  and  leave 
the  others,  believing  they  would  follow.  He  moves  forward, 
holding  his  sword  high  in  air.  His  faithful  men  spring  to  the 
line,  their  bayonets  glistening  in  the  sunlight.  The  Twelfth 
Connecticut,  inspired  by  this  courageous  dash,  soon  follow,  and 
the  enemy  are  driven  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  from  their 
works  in  the  timber,  our  own  regiment  capturing  many  prison 
ers  who  could  not  get  away,  so  sudden  and  desperate  was  the 
assault.  In  vain  do  staff  officers,  and  Gen.  McMillan  himself, 
ride  furiously  after  the  men,  shouting  to  Col.  Thomas  to  halt 
his  lines;  the  brave  old  commander  —  God  bless  him!  —  is 
riding  with  drawn  sword,  in  front  of  a  line  of  steel  bayonets, 
and  cannot  be  reached.  Nor  do  they  halt  until  the  colors  they 
bear  are  planted  on  the  open  plain  in  sight  of  Winchester. 
Not  a  Union  flag  to  be  seen  in  the  wide  sweep  to  the  left,  not 
a  Union  flag  in  front,  not  a  Union  flag  to  the  right ;  only  rebel 


RIDDLING    THEIR   SHIRTS.  19 1 

flags  and  batteries,  one  above  the  other,  with  infantry  massed 
between,  frowning  down  upon  us,  who  are  amazed  at  the  gran 
deur  of  the  scene.  The  regiment  awaits  the  next  order,  while 
their  leader  hastily  scans  the  field,  which  at  that  moment  his 
men  hold  in  sole  possession. 

A  flash,  and  without  a  moment's  warning,  the  spell  is  broken, 
when  an  angry  roar  and  a  horrid  screeching  sound  is  heard,  as 
a  shot  tears  through  the  air  a  few  feet  over  our  heads,  and  then 
we  discover  immediately  in  our  left  and  front  two  pieces  of 
artillery.  The  enemy  we  have  driven  back  has  retreated  to  the 
battery,  and  the  field  is  now  open  between  us.  Quickly  com 
prehending  the  situation,  Col.  Thomas  orders  the  regiment  to 
double-quick  to  the  tall  trees  ten  or  fifteen  yards  to  the  left, 
form  on  the  colors,  and  give  them  a  volley.  In  scarcely  more 
time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  the  regiment  obeys,  and  the  order 
to  load  and  fire  is  accompanied  by  a  queer  remark  about  "  rid 
dling  their  shirts."  It  is  literally  carried  out ;  for,  while  it  may 
seem  exaggeration  to  the  reader  who  is  not  on  the  spot,  yet  the 
truth  is  that  the  volleys  which  follow  instantly  silence  both 
pieces,  and  sweep  every  sign  of  life  from  the  guns.  Among 
those  killed  and  wounded  here  may  be  mentioned  Charles  Jenks, 
.another  of  Company  I,  a  former  classmate  of  the  writer.  While 
the  regiment  was  hastily  forming  under  fire,  Jenks  started  on 
the  run  towards  the  colors,  halted  deliberately,  threw  up  both 
arms  over  his  head,  and  fell  backward  dead. 

This  exciting  affair  is  hardly  over  when  white  puffs  of  smoke 
dot  the  plain,  and  a  storm  of  iron  hail  is  rained  upon  our  uncov 
ered  heads  from  guns  planted  further  up  the  plain,  one  above 
.and  back  of  the  other,  and  from  different  points,  which  bids 
fair,  for  a  few  moments,  to  completely  wipe  us  out.  But  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut  has  joined  us  on  the  right,  and  the  advance 
lines  of  Crook's  corps  are  rushing  in  from  the  same  direction. 
Plunging  shot  and  shell  are  creating  terrible  havoc  in  the  tree- 
tops  over  our  heads,  when  a  Union  flag  bursts  from  the  woods 
into  the  opening  on  our  left ;  then  another  and  another,  and 
the  plain  for  a  long  distance  to  our  left  swarms  with  Union 
troops,  the  flags  and  regiments  appearing  en  ecJielon,  while 


1 92  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

almost  at  the  same  instant  the  cannonading  concentrated  on  us 
is  suddenly  distributed  along  the  whole  line. 

Now  we  realize  for  the  first  time  how  far  the  rushing  bayo 
net  charge  has  carried  our  regiment  in  advance  of  the  main, 
army.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Upton  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  whose  men 
are  coming  up  on  our  left,  rides  up  through  the  regiment  and 
engages  in  hasty  conversation  with  Thomas,  concerning  troops- 
obscured  by  smoke  still  further  to  the  left.  When  the  cloud- 
wreaths  lift,  and  we  catch  sight  of  the  familiar  southern  cross 
on  the  enemy's  battle  flags,  the  colonel  orders  the  sights  on 
the  muskets  raised,  and  one  or  two  quick  volleys  are  fired  upor> 
their  confused  lines.  But  our  flanks  are  now  up,  and  with 
infantry  in  front,  cavalry  and  infantry  on  the  enemy's  left  flank, 
with  one  grand  rush  the  Union  troops  close  on  the  Confederate 
army,  and  the  finishing  charge  is  sharp  and  crushing.  Brave 
Col.  van  Patten,  although  wounded,  moves  to  the  right  of  the 
Eighth  Vermont  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New 
York,  and,  connecting  with  the  right  of  Upton's  troops,  we 
advance  rapidly  toward  the  enemy's  left  centre,  in  the  direction  of 
their  retreat,  delivering  an  enfilading  fire  as  we  advance,  receiv 
ing  in  turn  a  heavy  artillery  fire.  Men  from  Crook's  corps, 
without  any  formation  whatever,  join  us  till  we  come  to  a  stone 
wall,  passing  the  bodies  of  the  dead  artillerists.  But  the 
enemy's  artillery  breaks  clown  the  wall,  when  we  move  back  a 
few  yards  and  then  charge  over  beyond  ;  and  by  this  time  the 
entire  rebel  army  is  on  a  race  for  life,  and  soon  after  Sheridan 
is  able  to  telegraph  to  the  war  department  that  he  has  sent  the 
enemy  whirling  through,  Winchester,  and  that  this  army  fought 
splendidly. 

Just  as  the  last  cannon  shot  is  fired  towards  us  a  touching 
incident  occurs.  A  horse  comes  hobbling  up  on  three  legs, 
one  having  been  shot  away  just  above  the  knee.  The  poor 
animal  rubs  his  nose  against  the  shoulders  of  one  of  the  men, 
whinnying  and  crying  for  help.  The  men  pity  the  affectionate 
brute,  and  will  not  shoot  him  till  ordered  to  do  so  by  an  officer. 

Horace  Greeley,  in  his  carefully  prepared  "  History  of  the 
Great  Civil  War,"  has  singled  out  this  bayonet  charge  as  one 


"REMEMBER    ME."  IQ3 

worthy  of  special  mention,  for  its  national  importance.  In  fact, 
it  was  the  only  actual  bayonet  charge  in  the  great  battle. 
Col.  Thomas  simply  anticipated  Sheridan's  plans,  and  by  this 
charge  accomplished  exactly  what  Sheridan  wanted,  to  wit,  to 
break  the  rebel  left ;  and  the  important  thing  desired  by  Gen. 
Sheridan  was  secured  in  twenty  minutes  after  Thomas's  regi 
ment  was  once  under  way.  And  when  Thoburn's  gallant  men 
reached  the  enemy  in  the  woods  in  their  own  front,  they  found 
his  line  to  the  left  utterly  shattered  for  more  than,  three 
hundred  yards  by  Thomas's  bayonet  charge. 

Another  important  result  of  this  charge  was  that  it  opened  the 
way  for  the  cavalry  charge  which  immediately  followed.  The 
rebel  infantry  here  was  shattered  and  panic-stricken,  and  every 
veteran,  from  a  soldier  in  the  ranks  to  the  general  in  com 
mand,  knows  that  the  time  for  a  successful  cavalry  charge  is  at 
the  moment  the  enemy  at  any  given  point  is  panic-stricken  or 
demoralized,  and  just  here  the  crowning  moment  came. 

During  the  charge  Lieut.  Col.  Babcock,  of  the  Seventy-fifth 
New  York,  who  had  received  a  terrible  and  mortal  wound,  and 
a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  till  now,  raised  himself 
from  the  ground,  while  his  life  blood  was  ebbing  away,  and 
waved  us  on,  shouting :  "  Colonel,  you  are  doing  it  gloriously ! 
When  you  are  through,  remember  me."  Thomas  wave"d  his 
sword  back  to  his  dear  friend,  and  answered,  "  My  clear  fellow, 
I  'm  sorry  for  you.  I'll  remember  you."  He  kept  his  word 
faithfully,  for  the  conflict  had  hardly  ended  before  he  sent  Sergt. 
Bowman  back  with  a  detail,  and  had  Col.  Babcock  carried  from 
the  field ;  and  while  in  the  hospital,  the  dying  officer  remarked 
that  he  "  never  experienced  a  happier  moment  in  his  life  than 
when  he  saw  Thomas  leading  that  bold  and  successful  bayonet 
charge." 

New  Hampshire,  our  sister  state,  furnished  some  of -the  finest 
regiments  in  the  service,  and  among  the  number  the  noble 
Fourteenth,  of  the  second  division.  During  the  battle  that 
regiment  gallantly  penetrated  the  enemy's  lines,  when  it  was 
driven  back  with  terrible  loss,  and  the  colors  were  supposed  to 
have  been  captured.  Instead,  however,  three  brave  men,  Sergt. 


194  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

F.  H.  Buffum  (afterward  captain  in  service  of  the  state),  Sergt. 

G.  E.  Howard,  and  Corp.  H.  E.  Baldwin,  by  their  heroic  efforts 
saved  the-  flags,  which  were  adopted    by  Gen.    Thomas  ;    and 
though  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  as  an  organization,  had 
no  part  in  our  bayonet  charge,  its  colors  marched  proudly  side 
by    side    with    those    of    the    old    Eighth    Vermont    in    that 
memorable  and  successful  assault. 

Among  the  sad  memories  of  the  battle  who  can  ever  forget 
the  exclamation  of  horror  that  unconsciously  came  to  our  lips 
when,  glancing  back  as  the  regiment  sprang  forward,  we  saw 
the  zigzag  line  of  our  own  dead  and  wounded,  and  those  of 
the  line  we  relieved,  many  of  them  to  be  left  behind  forever,  as 
the  regiment  never  returned  to  the  spot ;  and  from  the  com 
mencement  of  the  charge  to  its  termination,  we  were  constantly 
obliged  to  jump  over  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the  blue  and 
the  gray.  So  fierce  had  been  the  contest  for  this  field  and 
wood,  over  a  thousand  men  had  spilled  their  blood  within  the 
radius  of  a  pistol  shot  of  our  pathway. 

The  flag  of  the  regiment  which  was  planted  with  such  lofty 
heroism  in  the  open  plain  in  front  of  Winchester  town  was  the 
same  sacred  flag  that  fluttered  in  the  soft  southern  breezes  on 
the  high  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  in  face  of  the 
terrible  fire  for  over  forty  days  and  nights  at  the  siege  of  Port 
Hudson. 

What  earthly  power  can  ever  obliterate  from  our  memory  the 
spectacle  that  closed  the  day !  The  battle  over,  the  last  shot 
fired,  the  regiment  halted  for  the  night.  Gen.  Sheridan 
appeared  once  more  in  our  midst,  engaging  for  a  moment  in 
conversation  with  Col.  Thomas.  The  sombre  pall  of  night 
enveloped  the  strange  scene;  when,  as  if  by  magic,  a  thousand 
camp-fires  leaped  into  the  air,  illuminating  the  great  rolling 
plain  and  hilltops  for  miles  around,  while  around  those  little 
fires  gathered  groups  of  brave,  resolute  men.  Oh,  my  com 
rades,  for  a  living  photograph  of  that  scene, —  the  bright  night 
fires,  the  happy,  excited  groups,  the  faces  burned  and  blackened 
with  powder,  the  glistening  eye  of  speaker  and  listener  as  the 
thrilling  encounter  was  described.  Then  like  some  strange 


CAPT.  GEORGE  0,  FopxD,  Co.  K. 


BRAVE    DEEDS.  1 95 

dream  the  drama  slowly  changes  ;  the  fires  burn  lower  and 
lower,  flicker,  flash,  and  then  go  out  in  darkness.  No 
mortal  historian  —  only  the  recording  angel  of  the  God  of  bat 
tles —  can  ever  write  down  the  multitude  of  graphic  and  thril 
ling  incidents  related  around  those  memorable  fires.  Then 
comes  the  moments  of  sorrow ;  for,  as  the  weary  soldier  rolls 
himself  in  his  blanket  alone,  hot  tears  steal  down  his  bronzed 
cheek  as  he  thinks  of  his  loved  tent-mate  also  alone,  dead  on 
the  plain  below. 

INCIDENTS. 

BEFORE  the  Eighth  Vermont  went  forward  to  relieve  Molineux, 
Company  D,  Capt.  Getchell,  and  Company  K,  Capt.  Ford,  were 
detailed  to  fill  a  gap  in  the  line  between  the  Nineteenth  Corps 
and  the  Eighth,  where  they  bravely  held  their  position  until 
after  Thomas  had  made  his  gallant  charge  through  the  woods, 
when  they  rejoined  the  regiment.  Company  F,  also,  which 
under  Capt.  Smith  had  been  holding  a  difficult  and  dangerous 
skirmish  line,  rejoined  the  regiment  at  that  time ;  and  all  three 
were  complimented  for  their  valiant  behavior  that  morning,  in 
Col.  Thomas's  report  to  the  adjutant  general. 

On  a  battlefield  where  the  entire  period  of  action  was  one 
long  display  of  courageous  endurance,  it  is  difficult  to  single 
out  instances  of  conspicuous  bravery.  And  yet  when  the 
Eighth  Vermont  came  under  a  hot  fire,  and  Col.  Thomas  called 
for  volunteers  to  go  out  in  front  of  the  line  as  scouts,  to  inform 
him  if  the  Confederates  should  make  any  attempt  to  charge 
upon  him,  Sergeant  Halladay,  of  Company  B,  and  the  six  com 
rades  who  responded,  showed  a  degree  of  nerve  that  entitles 
them  to  special  mention.  Those  daring  fellows,  taking  their 
lives  in  their  hands,  crawled  out  a  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the 
regimental  line,  and,  partially  concealed  by  some  bushes  and 
rising  ground,  lay  there  under  two  fires  and  watched  the  move 
ments  of  the  enemy,  who  filled  the  woods  just  ahead  of  them. 
They  could  not  well  return,  but  when  the  charge  ordered  by 
Col.  Thomas  swept  over  the  ground,  they  fell  in  and  rejoined 
their  company. 


196  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

When  the  Eighth  first  joined  the  army  in  Virginia,  members 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  would  often  joke  them  about  being  "  Louisi- 
anians  "  ;  but  after  the  splendid  charge  on  the  iQth,  Gen.  Sheri 
dan  rode  along  the  line,  and,  stopping  in  front  of  the  regiment, 
said  :  "  If  you  are  '  Louisianians,'  you  can  fight." 

The  recovery  of  Private  Ransom  Coalbeth,  of  Company  K, 
who  was  wounded  in  the  Opequon  fight,  was  remarkable.  A 
piece  of  shell  laid  open  his  side,  tearing  out  two  ribs,  and  ex 
posing  the  contents  of  his  chest.  The  surgeon  who  saw  him 
on  the  field  reported  that  he  was  past  help  and  would  not  live 
an  hour,  and  in  the  company  reports  his  name  was  placed  on 
the  list  of  dead.  But  about  two  months  after  the  battle,  notice 
was  received  from  the  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  that  he  was 
there,  doing  well  and  likely  to  recover.  He  did  recover,  and 
was  able  to  do  light  duty  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Before  his  regiment  started  for  the  front  on  the  morning  of 
the  i Qth,  Lawson  Whittemore,  of  Company  A,  wrote  a  letter 
to  his  mother,  but  remarked  to  a  comrade,  after  finishing  it, 
that  it  would  never  reach  her.  Nothing  further  might  have 
been  thought  of  the  matter  had  not  Whittemore  been  wounded. 
But  in  the  morning  fight  a  shell  burst  and  carried  away  his  leg. 
Speaking  to  Sergt.  Hill,  to  whom  he  had  made  the  remark 
about  the  letter,  he  asked  :  "  Do  you  remember  what  I  told 
you  ?  That  letter  was  in  my  pants  pocket,  and  is  torn  into  a 
thousand  pieces." 

Later  on,  after  the  regiment  had  executed  the  brilliant  charge 
for  which  the  colonel  has  been  so  highly  complimented,  and  was 
lying  prostrate  behind  a  stone  wall  where  they  had  made  a  tem 
porary  halt,  Edward  Belville,  of  Company  B,  who  had  escaped  all 
the  enemy's  shots,  received  a  fatal  wound  from  a  fence  rail  that 
lay  on  top  of  the  wall.  He  had  risen  to  his  feet  and  was  watch 
ing  the  Confederates,  when  an  artillery  shot  struck  the  ground  in 
his  front,  glanced,  hit  the  fence  rail,  and  sent  it  against  him  with 
tremendous  force.  Belville  was  thrown  on  the  ground  several 
feet  away,  and  his  comrades  who  picked  him  up  did  not  think 
him  seriously  hurt,  because  he  was  able  to  go  to  the  rear  without 
further  assistance.  But  he  died  in  the  hospital  shortly  after. 


HOW    GRANT    TOOK   IT.  197 

While  the  retreating  Confederates  were  pursued  beyond 
Winchester,  and  after  the  firing  along  their  lines  had  appar 
ently  ceased,  Col.  H.  E.  Hill  reports  seeing  one  cannon  wheel 
into  position  and  give  the  Union  victors  a  parting  shell,  which 
struck  and  exploded  about  forty  yards  in  front  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont,  and  a  flying  fragment  knocked  one  man  down.  This 
was  a  rather  spiteful  way  of  acknowledging  that  they  had  been 
soundly  whipped. 

After  Sheridan's  exultant  troops  had  encamped  for  the  night, 
and  the  kindly  darkness  had  dropped  its  veil  over  the  bloody 
field,  Lieut.  Lewis  Childs,  of  McMillan's  staff,  who  was  look 
ing  for  his  supply  trains,  was  obliged  to  dismount  and  lead  his 
horse,  to  avoid  treading  on  the  wounded  and  dead  of  both 
armies,  who  still  lay  where  they  had  fallen  on  the  gory  ground. 

The  effect  on  Gen.  Grant  of  "Little  Phil's"  first  victory  in 
the  valley  would  seem  to  have  been  phenomenal.  He  was 
never  a  demonstrative  man  ;  but  an  officer  who  was  inspector 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  army  operating  against  Richmond, 
said:  "The  only  time  I  ever  saw  Gen.  Grant  show  any  exhil 
aration  was  when  he  received  the  news  of  Sheridan's  victory  at 
Winchester.  He  came  out  of  his  tent,  threw  his  hat  into  the 
air,  and  then  went  back  again.  He  knew  that  was  the  begin 
nin  of  the  end." 


The  list  of  men  killed  and  wounded  at  Opequon,  on  the 
instant,  is  as  follows  :  Killed  :  Corp.  Marshall  W.  Wells  and 
Lawson  Whittemore,  Company  A  ;  Edmund  Fisher,  Charles  J. 
Blood,  Walter  W.  Pierce,  Charles  E.  Jenks,  and  James  F. 
Black,  Company  I.  Wounded  :  Lieut.  Col.  Henry  F.  Button; 
Capt.  Geo.  O.  Ford,  Company  K  ;  Lieut.  Wheaton  Livingston, 
Company  B  ;  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Robie,  Company  I  ;  Lieut.  Perry 
Porter,  Jr.,  Company  K  ;  Sergt.  Kirk  F.  Brown,  Corp.  Rodger 
Hovey,  Michael  Hurley,  Wm.  B.  Page,  and  Charles  S.  Clark, 
Company  A  ;  Corp.  Wrn.  H.  Henry  and  Edward  Belville  (died 
from  wounds),  Company  B  ;  John  Miller  and  Henry  A.  Dow, 
Company  C  ;  Sergt.  Jacob  Mills,  Jr.,  and  Edgar  Barstow,  Com 
pany  D  ;  James  W.  Averill  and  Thomas  F.  Ferrin,  Company 


198  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

E ;  Paul  Bouskay  and  D.  L.  Payne,  Company  F ;  Antone 
Depuys,  Company  G ;  George  P.  Eddy  and  Charles  S.  Smith, 
Company  I ;  Corp.  George  Furbush,  Samuel  J\  Penfield,  Simon 
Scheikert,  Wm.  H.  Silsby,  and  Lewis  J.  Ingalls,  Company  K. 

Lieut.  Col.  Henry  F.  Button,  one  of  the  most  efficient  and 
popular  officers  in  the  Eighth  Regiment,  was  so  severely 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Opequon,  that  he  was  unable  to  con 
tinue  in  the  service,  and  was  honorably  discharged  November 
1 6th,  1864.  He  entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Company  H, 
and  having  an  active,  well-disciplined  mind,  he  soon  made  him 
self  master  of  the  situation,  and  was  equal  to  any  emergency, 
whether  in  camp  or  under  fire.  He  was  one  of  the  best  field 
officers  in  the  brigade,  and  could  move  a  regiment  in  battle  with 
the  same  ease  as  when  on  parade.  For  valiant  service  as  com 
mander  of  the  picked  detachment  at  the  destruction  of  the  gun 
boat  Cotton,  he  was  complimented  by  Col.  Thomas  in  his 
report  made  to  the  adjutant  general  of  Vermont. 


LIEUT.  COL.  HENRY  R  BUTTON. 


IX. 


FISHER'S    HILL. 

WHAT  Mr.  Geo.  E.  Pond  calls  the  corollary  to  the  battle  of 
Opequon  was  fought  three  days  later.  In  their  flight  from 
Winchester,  Early's  troops,  pursued  by  a  victorious  and  exult 
ant  army,  did  not  pause  until  they  reached  the  wellnigh  im 
pregnable  fastness  known  as  Fisher's  Hill.  There  they  took 
position  on  a  thoroughly  defended  bluff  that  rises  abruptly  from 
the  general  surface  above  Strasburg,  midway  between  Massa- 
nutten  and  North  Mountain.  The  steep  eastern  base  is  guarded 
by  a  loop  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  Tumbling  Run  cuts  its  chan 
nel  under  the  very  brow  of  the  crest  on  the  north.  By  blocking 
the  approaches  on  the  northwest,  therefore,  with  strong  works, 
the  enemy,  once  in  possession  of  the  crest,  could  consider  them 
selves  tolerably  secure,  if  not  absolutely  inaccessible. 

But  Gen.  Sheridan  did  not  propose  to  neglect  his  advantage, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  2ist  instant  the  Union  troops  were 
advanced  within  artillery  range  of  Fisher's  Hill,  and  the  day 
was  spent  in  shelling  the  woods  on  the  enemy's  flanks,  and 
fixing  a  position  from  which  to  strike  a  decisive  blow.  At  day 
break  the  next  morning  the  batteries  opened  a  brisk  fire,  to 
which  the  Confederates  made  but  a  feeble  reply,  while  the  in 
fantry  line  was  moved  into  the  woods  north  of  the  hill ;  and 
during  the  forenoon  strong  earthworks  were  thrown  up,  though 
for  what  reason  the  soldiers  did  not  know,  unless  it  was  to 
amuse  the  Johnnies,  who  gazed  down  upon  them  from  their 
stronghold  on  the  bluff. 


200  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

At  two  o'clock,  p.  M.  the  skirmishers  advanced  and  drove  a 
detachment  of  Confederates  out  of  some  rifle-pits  in  front,  and 
at  five  o'clock  Gen.  Sheridan's  plan  of  attack  became  apparent. 
While  the  movements  in  front  had  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  enemy,  Crook  with  the  Eighth  Corps  had  executed  a  suc 
cessful  flank  movement,  surprising  them  and  turning  their  left. 
This  was  what  Sheridan  had  been  waiting  for,  and  as  soon  as 
it  became  certain  that  Crook  had  gained  the  rear,  he  ordered  a 
general  advance  all  along  the  lines. 

Col.  Thomas  and  his  regiment  pushed  forward  with  the  rest 
of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  towards  the  base  of  the  bluff  that 
looked  so  formidable,  bristling  with  blazing  guns.  But  it 
seemed  incredible  that  Crook  could  actually  be  in  the  enemy's 
rear,  or  that  the  strong  works  would  yield  to  assault.  Just 
then,  however,  Captain  Wilkinson,  of  Gen.  Emory's  staff,  came 
dashing  along,  waving  his  hat  and  shouting,  "They've  left 
their  guns  and  are  running  like  cowards  !  "  Gen.  Sheridan,  too, 
was  all  along  the  line  with  his  aids,  impatient  of  delay,  and 
commanding  everything  to  be  hurried  forward. 

Across  the  ravine,  through  the  tangled  brushwood,  and  up 
the  steep  ascent  scrambled  the  troops,  to  find  the  works 
deserted,  and  Early's  army  in  full  retreat  along  the  valley  road, 
their  dead  and  wounded,  batteries,  and  everything  on  wheels 
left  behind,  and  the  troops  so  panic-stricken  at  the  sudden  burst 
ing  of  the  Eighth  Corps  upon  their  unguarded  rear,  that  they 
were  indeed  running  like  cowards,  while  a  considerable  force 
had  failed  to  escape  and  were  made  prisoners.  Twenty-one 
pieces  of  artillery  were  taken  and  a  stand  of  Confederate  colors, 
while  the  disabled  and 'slain,  numbering  more  than  a  thousand 
men,  testified  to  the  deadly  havoc  produced  by  the  Union  guns. 

By  this  time  night  had  shut  down  on  the  scene,  but  Gen. 
Sheridan,  determined  to  keep  close  upon  the  enemy's  rear,  or 
dered  immediate  pursuit ;  and  the  Eighth  Vermont,  as  the 
advance  of  the  supporting  column,  pressed  on  as  rapidly  as  the 
thick  darkness  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  would  permit. 
While  they  descended  the  slope  beyond  the  bluff,  a  light  sud 
denly  shone  out  from  a  small  house  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  which 


//?GEON  s.  *• 


SA  UC  Y  JOHNNIES.  2O I 

proved  to  be  a  signal  to  the  enemy,  for,  when  the  regiment  came 
in  front  of  it,  a  Confederate  battery  opened  fire  upon  them 
from  the  higher  ground,  and  at  the  same  moment  the  timber 
on  each  side  of  the  line  blazed  with  musketry. 

It  was  not  an  agreeable  surprise  for  a  dark  night,  and  several 
men  were  wounded  by  the  bursting  shells,  for  the  shots  had 
been  well  aimed.  One  flying  piece  struck  a  musket  in  the 
hands  of  the  tallest  man  in  Company  C,  and  cut  off  the  breech, 
without  hurting  him  or  any  one  else,  though  he  had  what  the 
Friends  would  designate  as  a  "  close  call."  Taking  in  the  situa 
tion,  the  captain  of  the  company  made  a  dash  for  the  door  of 
the  house,  but  finding  it  barred,  broke  in  a  window,  and,  reach 
ing  in,  overturned  the  signal  lamp  with  his  sword.  Then  Col. 
Thomas  ordered  the  regiment  to  charge  up  the  bank  to  the 
left,  and  the  temerity  of  the  saucy  Johnnies  was  quickly 
punished  by  the  capture  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
the  major  who  commanded  them.  Meanwhile  a  Union  battery 
had  arrived  on  the  spot,  and  delivered  a  shot  which  forced  the 
enemy  into  silent  retirement. 

The  results  of  that  day's  work,  while  insignificant  when 
compared  with  Sheridan's  two  great  battles  of  the  valley,  were 
important  because  of  the  wide  disparity  between  the  losses  of 
the  two  armies.  For  while  the  Confederates  must  have  lost 
over  thirteen  hundred  men,  the  Union  forces  were  reduced 
only  about  four  hundred.  But  the  brilliancy  of  this  achieve 
ment,  following  so  closely  the  victory  at  Winchester,  height 
ened  the  nation's  admiration  of  "  Little  Phil,"  and  established 
him  in  public  confidence.  There  were  general  demonstrations 
of  rejoicing ;  and  on  hearing  the  news  Gen.  Grant  said  to  Sheri 
dan,  "  Keep  on,  and  your  good  work  will  cause  the  fall  of  Rich 
mond." 

No  members  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  were  killed  in  this 
engagement  ;  but  George  Bement  and  George  S.  Remick, 
Company  A,  Lieut.  Edward  F.  Gould,  Company  D,  and  John 
B.  Thomas,  Company  F,  were  wounded.  Ferris  Merrill,  Com 
pany  G,  fell  out  of  the  ranks  on  the  night  march  to  Woodstock,, 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  died  in  captivity. 


202  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

After  this  disastrous  encounter,  Early's  depleted  army  con 
tinued  to  fall  back  up  the  valley,  until,  on  the  25th,  they 
reached  Port  Republic,  far  up  among  the  head-waters  of  the 
Shenandoah.  The  Union  forces  pressed  on  in  pursuit,  and  col 
lected  at  Harrisonburg,  near  enough  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  on 
all  the  enemy's  movements.  The  cavalry  under  Torbert,  how 
ever,  proceeded  to  Waynesboro,  Staunton,  and  other  points  to 
the  southward,  destroying  military  stores  and  provisions,  and 
laying  waste  the  country,  in  order  to  cut  off  the  enemy's  means 
of  subsistence.  For  some  days  Sheridan  remained  quietly  in 
that  vicinity,  while  carrying  on  correspondence  with  Gen. 
Grant  concerning  future  movements.  Finding  that  Kershaw 
with  his  forces  had  rejoined  Early,  and  Rosser  with  his  brigade 
had  reinforced  the  enemy's  cavalry,  Gen.  Sheridan  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  best  policy  was,  "  to  let  the  burning  of 
the  crops  of  the  valley  be  the  end  of  this  campaign,  and  let 
some  of  this  [his]  army  go  elsewhere." 

With  this  view  the  lieutenant  general  at  length  concurred, 
and  Sheridan  set  about  the  cruel  though  necessary  business  of 
devastating  the  country,  and  burning  everything  on  which 
either  man  or  beast  could  subsist.  The  measure  very  likely 
caused  no  little  suffering  to  innocent,  defenceless  people,  and 
the  fair  land  soon  became  a  smoking,  blackened  waste. 


TOM'S    BROOK. 

IN  carrying  out  the  orders  received  from  Gen.  Grant,  Sheri 
dan  began  to  move  his  ar,my  northward  again  during  the  first 
days  of  October  ;  and  Early,  construing  this  retrogression  as  a 
symptom  of  weakness,  or,  what  is  more  likely,  getting  so  des 
perate  for  lack  of  subsistence  that  he  was  obliged  to  offer  battle 
or  hasten  to  some  more  hospitable  region  with  his  famished 
army,  pushed  on  in  pursuit.  The  enemy's  cavalry  under 
Rosser,  the  new  commander,  were  particularly  inclined  to  press 
upon  the  Union  lines,  and  caused  them  much  annoyance.  This 
led  on  the  Qth  instant  to  a  cavalry  engagement,  which  was 
interesting  to  the  Eighth  Vermont,  chiefly  because  a  portion  of 


SEEING    A    BATTLE.  203 

the  men  chanced  to  be  on  picket  duty  in  a  position  from  which 
they  could  witness  the  fight,  while  at  one  stage  of  the  action 
there  was  a  probability  that  they,  and  perhaps  the  entire  regi 
ment,  might  come  under  the  Confederate  fire. 

An  officer  of  the  Eighth,  who  was  in  command  of  the  pickets 
at  the  time,  has  furnished  quite  a  graphic  account  of  what  he 
and  many  of  his  comrades  saw  of  this  lively  battle.  As  he  de 
scribes  it,  Rosser  set  about  his  new  task  with  great  energy,  and 
pressed  Custer,  who  was  his  classmate,  on  the  back  and  middle 
roads,  while  Lomax,  with  another  brigade  of  Confederate  horse, 
moved  down  the  valley  pike  against  Merritt.  Gen.  Sheridan 
resented  this  boldness,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  rode  to 
the  rear  to  investigate.  Coming  upon  the  Eighth  Vermont  as 
it  lay  resting  after  the  toilsome  march,  he  stopped  some  mo 
ments  and  talked  with  Col.  Thomas.  He  was  in  excellent 
spirits,  and  said  that  the  enemy  had  a  new  cavalry  commander 
from  Richmond,  who  thought  that  the  Union  army  was  run 
ning  away,  and  was  consequently  very  saucy  and  pushing,  and 
needed  a  fight  to  cool  him  off.  And  Sheridan  added  that  he 
was  going  to  find  out  whether  his  army  were  running  away  or 
not,  and  at  the  same  time  settle  with  this  new  general. 

The  place  was  near  Tom's  Brook,  three  or  four  miles  south 
of  Strasburg,  and  the  picket  line  was  pushed  well  out.  Just 
beyond,  the  enemy's  cavalry  were  hammering  away  with  great 
vigor  and  using  their  artillery  freely,  and  the  Union  troopers 
were  steadily  driven  back.  The  brisk  firing  continued  till  long 
after  dark  that  night,  and  at  last  the  two  lines  approached  so 
near  that  shots  began  to  fall  among  the  pickets,  and  one  man 
was  wounded.  To  the  picket  officer  it  seemed  that  Sheridan's 
•"  settlement  "  with  Rosser  was  showing  a  balance  on  the  wrong 
side  of  the  account  that  might  prove  him  insolvent,  unless  the 
Union  infantry  took  a  hand  in  figuring  up  the  bill. 

During  the  night  which  followed,  the  utmost  vigilance  was 
maintained  along  that  picket  line,  no  member  of  which  showed 
any  symptoms  of  being  sleepy  ;  and  before  retiring  to  head 
quarters  "  Little  Phil "  gave  the  famous  verbal  order  to  Torbert 
to  start  out  at  daylight  next  morning,  and  "  whip  the  rebel  cav- 


204  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

airy  or  get  whipped  himself."  In  his  report  Sheridan  changes 
the  wording  of  this  order  somewhat,  but  Torbert's  version  is 
believed  to  be  right,  since  it  sounds  like  S&eridan,  who  always 
went  into  a  fight  intending  that  somebody  should  get  soundly 
whipped. 

At  daybreak  the  cavalry  was  in  the  saddle,  Custer  confront 
ing  Rosser  on  the  back  road,  and  Merritt  facing  Lomax  on  the 
pike.  The  opposing  forces  were  nearly  equal,  and  each  com 
mander  had  a  full  battery,  so  that  the  spectators  on  the  picket 
line  had  a  prospect  of  witnessing  an  intensely  interesting  con 
test.  As  the  Union  cavalry  deployed  in  full  view  of  the  foe, 
the  latter  opened  a  furious  artillery  fire  upon  them,  and  pres 
ently  met  their  advance  with  carbines.  But  the  Union  troopers 
moved  firmly  out ;  and  as  the  horses  set  into  a  gallop,  they  gave 
a  prolonged  yell,  brandished  their  gleaming  swords,  and  burst 
upon  the  over-confident  Johnnies,  breaking  their  line  in  pieces. 

The  fight  lasted  for  about  two  hours,  during  which  Rosser 
struggled  with  great  desperation  and  a  momentary  success ;  but 
no  subsequent  effort  could  regain  the  set-back  he  received  at 
the  outset,  and  soon  his  entire  force  was  flying  in  wild  confu 
sion.  All  their  artillery,  except  a  single  piece,  was  left  behind, 
and  Torbert,  whose  men  were  in  high  spirits,  chased  the  fugi 
tives  along  the  valley  for  a  space  of  fully  twenty-five  miles, 
before  breakfast. 

Before  the  defeat  was  clearly  discerned  by  the  excited 
pickets,  the  officer  says  he  was  somewhat  startled  by  seeing  a 
full  rebel  battery  come  into  his  line,  the  riders  wearing  the 
gray ;  but  in  a  moment  the  cause  of  the  strange  movement 
became  apparent,  for  he  discovered  that  the  pieces  were  cap 
tured,  and  under  the  direction  of  soldiers  in  blue. 

Everybody  in  camp  that  day  was  in  rare  good  humor.  Gen. 
Sheridan  could  not  move  without  being  greeted  with  cheers,, 
and  the  air  was  full  of  jokes  and  gibes  about  the  new  Confeder 
ate  general.  There  was  some  reason  to  believe  that  the  Fed 
eral  army  would  shortly  have  all  the  enemy's  heavy  guns  in  safe 
keeping ;  and  not  long  after  this  the  mob  in  Richmond  painted 
on  some  pieces  of  artillery  marked  to  be  sent  to  Gen.  Early,. 
"In  care  of  Gen.  Sheridan." 


LIEUT-GENERAL  P.  H.  SHERIDAN. 


X. 


BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  CREEK. 

WHILE  the  two  hostile  armies  had  been  marching  up  and 
down  the  Shenandoah  valley,  improving  every  chance  to  deal 
each  other  crippling  blows,  the  sun  was  moving  to  his  winter 
quarters  in  the  south.  The  pensive  autumn  days  came,  when 
nature  seemed  to  deck  the  far  blue  hills  and  nearer  landscape 
in  "  splendors  not  her  own  ";  when  forests  put  on  their  dying 
brilliancy,  and  gorgeous  sunsets  left  the  world  aflame. 

Unconsciously  the  veteran  regiment,  whose  devious  career 
lends  interest  to  these  pages,  were  going  to  their  "  last  weird 
battle  in  the  west,"  after  which  those  who  escaped  would  be 
exempt  from  the  toils  and  cruelties  of  fighting  for  the  remain 
der  of  their  days.  But  the  release  was  to  cost  them  the  blood 
iest  sacrifice  they  had  yet  laid  on  the  altar  of  patriotism. 
Already  had  their  precious  colors  passed  through  a  terrible 
ordeal  in  the  white  heat  of  slaughter,  and  the  company  rolls 
had  strangely  changed,  since  first  the  warm-hearted  volunteers 
answered  to  their  names  at  Camp  Holbrook.  But  the  defiant 
spirit  of  rebellion,  that  had  so  long  hovered  over  the  valley,  was 
not  yet  satiated  with  human  blood,  and  thousands  on  both  sides 
were  yet  to  fall,  before  its  cursed  shadow  would  flee  into  the 
distant  mountains,  and  haunt  the  fair  land  no  more. 

Early  and  his  generals  did  not  lack  courage  in  the  field  or 
skill  in  strategy,  nor  were  they  yet  conquered.  Since  the  flames 
had  devoured  the  abundance  on  which  they  had  hoped  to  sub- 
-sist  as  long  as  they  required  to  hold  possession  of  the  valley, 


206  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

they  were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  choosing  between  imme 
diate  retreat  and  aggressive  operations.  They  decided  on  the- 
latter,  and,  inasmuch  as  the  case  was  desperate,  all  their  mili 
tary  genius  was  laid  under  tribute  to  devise  means  by  which  to 
visit  upon  the  Union  army  a  surprise  as  sudden  and  complete 
as  that  which  had  cost  them  such  a  mortifying  rout  at  Fisher's 
Hill.  The  experience  of  the  last  month  had  taught  them  some 
thing  of  the  methods  of  Gen.  Sheridan,  and  it  was  not  their 
fault  if  they  did  not  better  the  instruction. 

The  Confederates  possessed  one  advantage  over  their  enemy 
which  could  scarcely  be  rated  too  highly.  They  had  an  estab 
lished  signal  station  on  Three  Top,  the  highest  point  of  land  in 
the  region,  from  which  they  had  never  been  permanently  dis 
lodged,  and  from  which  they  could  always  overlook  the  Union 
forces,  and  gain  an  accurate  knowledge  of  their  position.  By 
this  means,  when  Early  once  resolved  on  striking  his  opponent 
by  stealth,  he  was  enabled  to  plan  a  battle  which  was  certainly 
the  most  unique,  if  not  one  of  the  most  masterly  attacks  during 
the  war. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  Union  army  was  concen 
trated  near  the  confluence  of  Cedar  Creek  and  the  Shenandoah, 
a  short  distance  north  of  Strasburg,  in  full  view  of  the  Confed 
erate  signal  station.  This  was  a  position  very  favorable  to  the 
designs  of  Gen.  Early,  for  in  planning  an  attack,  he  could  have 
the  benefit  of  the  actual  battle-ground  spread  out  like  a  pano 
rama  under  his  eye.  As  he  and  his  officers  surveyed  the  Union 
camp  on  the  i8th  instant,,  they  discovered  the  situation  of 
Sheridan's  three  army  corps  to  be  thus  :  They  were  encamped 
just  east  of  the  creek,  near  the  pike  leading  from  Winchester, 
with  Strasburg  in  their  front  and  Middletown  in  the  rear  ;  the 
Eighth  occupied  the  left  of  the  pike  in  two  divisions,  the  first 
entrenched  on  a  mound  east  of  the  stream,  the  second  also  on 
high  ground  a  little  to  the  north,  and  close  to  the  pike ;  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  held  the  right  of  the  Eighth,  and  was  en 
camped  on  an  elevated  plain  behind  earthworks,  with  the  pike 
on  the  left,  the  creek  in  front,  and  Meadow  brook  (a  branch  of 
Cedar  Creek)  on  the  right ;  beyond  the  brook  the  Sixth  formed 


THE    EVE    OF  BATTLE.  2O/ 

the  right  flank  of  the  army,  and  was  also  entrenched  ;  the 
cavalry  and  artillery  were  disposed  in  near  proximity. 

On  the  eve  of  the  battle  which  the  enemy  was  preparing 
with  the  utmost  secrecy,  two  untoward  circumstances  seemed 
to  favor  their  designs.  Gen.  Sheridan  was  absent  from  the 
army,  attending  to  important  business  in  Washington,  so  that 
the  command  of  the  troops  devolved  on  Gen.  Wright,  of  the 
Sixth  Corps.  The  other  circumstance  alluded  to  was  that,  on 
the  night  before  the  surprise  occurred,  Wright  and  his  subor 
dinate  officers  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Early  was  too  far 
away  to  cause  any  apprehension,  and  the  Union  army  slept 
with  a  feeling  of  profound  security.  While  it  might  be  unjust 
to  charge  the  officers  in  command  with  neglecting  to  throw 
around  their  camp  the  proper  safeguards,  it  was  a  fact  that 
they  trusted  too  readily  to  the  results  of  what  was  considered 
a  thorough  reconnoissance  to  determine  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  morning  of  the  fight  found  them  unprepared. 

Whether  Early  purposed  to  mislead  his  antagonist  as  to  his 
whereabouts  or  not,  his  whole  available  force  was  hovering  so 
near  at  hand  that,  during  the  night  of  the  i8th  instant,  he  was 
able  to  march  them  in  perfect  silence  along  the  to  them  well- 
known  mountain  ways,  and  post  them  by  divisions  so  skilfully, 
that  at  morning  light  they  could  fall  upon. their  enemy  with  the 
most  sudden  and  effective  surprise. 

But  while  a  sense  of  absolute  security  prevailed  in  camp 
the  night  before  the  battle,  there  was  one  officer  who  had  his 
suspicions  that  danger  was  close  at  hand,  and,  after  making  a 
personal  investigation,  he  caused  his  fears  to  be  reported  at 
headquarters.  Col.  Thomas  observed  symptoms  of  impending 
trouble,  and,  after  the  other  officers  had  retired  to  their  tents,  he 
moved  anxiously  about,  by  no  means  satisfied  that  all  was  well. 
He  was  on  duty  as  corps  officer  of  the  day,'  and  during  the 
afternoon,  while  on  the  watch,  he  discovered  through  his  glass 
men  in  citizens'  dress  talking  earnestly  together  and  pointing 
here  and  there  to  the  lines.  What  he  saw  strongly  inclined 
Thomas  to  the  opinion  that  the  enemy  had  not  abandoned  their 
front,  all  reports  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 


I 

2O8  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Finally  Col.  Thomas  called  the  attention  of  Gen.  Emory  to 
what  he  had  observed,  and  made  known  his  suspicions.  The 
general  appeared  to  consider  the  matter  of>  sufficient  gravity  to 
be  reported  at  headquarters,  and  asked  him  as  a  personal  favor 
to  call  on  Gen.  Wright  and  repeat  the  story  to  him.  But 
Wright  did  not  think  there  was  occasion  for  undue  anxiety,  and 
to  quiet  the  colonel's  uneasiness  said  :  "  I  have  ordered  Crook 
to  send  out  a  strong  reconnoitring  force." 

But  Col.  Thomas  considered  it  prudent  to  post  his  picket 
lines  with  unusual  care,  and  remained  in  the  saddle  through  the 
entire  night.  Having  made  his  post-midnight  rounds  among 
the  guard,  he  rode  out  beyond  the  picket  line,  and  soon  found 
himself  in  a  ravine  confronted  by  Confederate  soldiers,  who 
insolently  demanded  :  "  Surrender,  you  d — d  Yankee  !"  "  No, 
sir,"  said  the  colonel,  "  it  's  too  early  in  the  morning  !  Besides, 
your  request  was  not  respectful."  And  striking  spurs  into  his 
horse,  he  dashed  up  a  steep  bank,  followed  by  a  shower  of  bul 
lets  and  a  rebel  yell. 

Col.  J.  Hotchkiss,  chief  of  engineers  on  Gen.  Early's  staff, 
during  a  recent  call  on  the  writer,  referred  to  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Creek,  and  stated  some  interesting  circumstances  con 
nected  with  it.  He  said  that  during  the  afternoon  before  the 
engagement  took  place,  he  and  another  officer  dressed  in  citi 
zens'  clothes  and  crept  all  along  the  Union  picket  lines,  exam 
ining  every  point,  and  getting  a  large  amount  of  information  of 
value  in  planning  the  attack.  It  is  possible  that  the  twain 
were  the  very  men  whom  Col.  Thomas  saw  apparently  studying 
the  situation.  Shortly  before  the  attack  opened  in  the  morn 
ing  a  heavy  rumbling  sound  reached  the  Confederate  head 
quarter,  and  Early  remarked  anxiously  :  "  It  's  all  up  with  us. 
We  are  discovered,  and  that  is  the  enemy's  artillery."  Hotch 
kiss  thought  not,  and  crawling  out  once  more  along  the  picket 
lines,  he  found  them  in  quiet  order.  The  noise  proceeded  from 
a  wagon  train  starting  for  Winchester.  Col.  Hotchkiss  said 
further  that  they  were  very  desirous  to  capture  Sheridan,  and 
had  a  force  of  one  thousand  picked  men,  who  were  to  push  on  to 
the  Belle  Grove  House,  when  the  battle  opened,  and  take  him 


ORE 


=-.=,  UNION  LINES. 

MM  CON  FED.         it 

«=THOMAS'S  BRIGADE 

(j , 2 ,3,4-, POSITIONS  IN  MORNING.) 

COURSE  OF  THOMAS  BRIGADE 

r1    SHERI  DAN'S  HEADQUARTERS 


K  E  R  5  H  A  W 


A    BRIGADE    SEA^T     TO   DEATH.  2OQ 

prisoner  ;  but  the  movements  of  the  Union  cavalry  intercepted 
the  plan.  This  fact  would  indicate  that  Early  was  not  aware 
of  Sheridan's  absence. 

Col.  Thomas  had  scarcely  reached  the  camp  after  his  escape 
from  the  Confederate  skirmishers,  when  the  noise  of  heavy 
firing  was  heard  along  the  front  of  the  Union  lines,  and  Crook's 
first  division  of  the  Eighth  Corps,  which  occupied  the  extreme 
left,  was  driven  back  in  confusion.  What  followed  is  told  in 
detail  later  on.  Kershaw  advanced  straight  upon  the  Eighth 
Corps  from  the  creek,  while  Gordon,  Pegram,  and  Ramseur 
moved  up  on  the  left  ;  Wharton,  too,  was  already  posted  on  the 
pike  in  front  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  where  he  could  pour  an 
enfilading  fire  into  the  Union  lines  beyond  the  bridge. 

When  the  lines  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  were  hastily  formed 
for  action,  Col.  Thomas  took  command  of  McMillan's  brigade, 
to  which  his  own  regiment  belonged,  and  Maj.  Mead  led  the 
Eighth  Vermont.  Before  the  troops  realized  what  had  hap 
pened  they  found  themselves  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  and 
made  the  startling  discovery  that  the  Union  lines  were  giving 
way  before  the  fierce  onslaught  of  the  enemy.  It  soon  became 
evident  that  Crook's  gallant  regiments  had  fallen  back  before 
the  resolute  Confederates,  and  were  retreating  across  the  pike, 
hotly  pursued.  An  effort  must  instantly  be  made  to  relieve 
them,  and,  even  at  the  cost  of  annihilation,  a  force  must  be 
sent  out  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  till  the  Sixth  and  Nine 
teenth  Corps  had  time  to  form. 

Col.  Thomas  and  his  brigade  were  close  at  hand,  and,  just  as 
the  gray  dawn  revealed  the  terrible  slaughter  beyond,  Gen. 
Emory  ordered  them  to  advance  across  the  pike  —  a  single,  un 
supported  brigade  —  against  the  best  divisions  of  Early's  army. 
Instantly  Maj.  Mead  shouted,  "Fall  in,  Eighth  Vermont  !  "  and 
taking  position  in  the  line  they  moved  up  the  hill  to  the  edge 
of  the  wood  from  which  Crook's  troops  had  fled.  Lieut.  James 
Welch,  with  Company  G,  advanced  into  the  woods  as  skirmish 
ers,  and  were  soon  hurled  back  by  the  overwhelming  forces  of 
the  enemy.  But  the  brigade  knew  why  it  had  been  sent  there, 
and  firmly  met  the  shock  on  ground  which  could  not  long  be 


210  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT, 

held.  Mead  was  soon  wounded,  and  passed  the  command  to 
Capt.  McFarland,  of  Company  A,  who,  when  the  brigade  sullenly 
retired,  took  back  with  him  less  than  a  third  df  his  gallant  men. 
It  was  a  fearful  necessity  that  required  a  detachment  to  be 
sent  to  almost  instant  destruction,  in  order  to  gain  time,  a 
trying  alternative  that,  thank  God,  seldom  presents  itself  in 
the  history  of  warfare.  When  the  veterans  visited  the  battle 
field  in  1883,  and  were  recalling  the  experiences  of  the  morning 
surprise,  Gen.  Emory  took  Col.  Thomas  by  the  hand,  and  said, 
with  much  feeling:  "Thomas,  I  never  gave  an  order  in  my  life 
that  cost  me  so  much  pain  as  it  did  to  order  you  across  the 
pike  that  morning.  I  never  expected  to  see  you  again."  But 
it  has  its  parallels. 

At  Chancellorsville,  when  Jackson  made  his  famous  flank 
attack,  routing  the  Eleventh  Corps,  Gen.  Sickles  ordered  Pleas- 
onton  to  take  command  of  the  artillery,  and  Pleasonton  hastily 
collected  twenty-two  guns  of  his  own  and  the  Third  Corps',  plac 
ing  them  in  Hazel  Grove,  on  an  eminence  that  was  really  the  key 
to  the  field.  The  Confederates  were  so  close  at  hand  that  there 
was  no  time  to  load  or  aim  the  guns.  In  another  moment  the 
position  would  be  lost.  Something  must  be  done  instantly  to 
delay  Jackson.  Turning  to  Maj.  Peter  Keenan,  of  the  Eighth 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  Pleasonton  ordered  him  to  charge  the  ten 
thousand  of  the  enemy  with  his  four  hundred.  Keenan  knew  it 
was  certain  annihilation  to  his  command  to  hurl  it  into  that  mass 
of  infantry,  but  he  obeyed,  and  nobly  rode  to  his  death.  His 
charge  gave  the  batteries  time  to  get  ready,  and  Jackson  was 
stopped. 

History  repeats  itself.  The  charge  of  the  Light  Brigade  was 
not  a  nobler  act  than  the  charge  of  that  four  hundred  Union 
cavalry,  Keenan's  conduct  rivaled  that  of  Arnold  Winckelried 
in  Switzerland,  and  the  Chevalier  d' Assas  in  France.  The 
disparity  of  forces  was  not  much  greater  than  that  between 
the  gallant  brigade  at  Cedar  Creek  and  the  four  exultant  and 
victorious  Confederate  divisions  that  it  was  ordered  to  delay 
that  the  Sixth  Corps  might  get  ready. 

Sheridan  himself,  early  in  his  career  in  the   war,  at  Stone 


TESTIMONIA LS.  2 1 1 

River  sent  a  brigade  to  almost  certain  death  in  order  to  gain 
time  for  the  rest  of  his  division,  and  the  charge  cost  him  the  life 
of  the  gallant  Gen.  Sill.  Sheridan's  whole  division  in  that  battle, 
in  its  relation  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  exemplified  in  a 
marked  manner  the  conduct  of  Thomas's  brigade  at  Cedar 
Creek. 

The  act  of  a  single  brigade,  however  brave,  is  but  a  small 
factor  in  the  sum  total  of  a  day's  fighting  like  that  at  Cedar 
Creek.  Other  troops,  as  heroic  as  those  led  by  Thomas,  went 
quickly  to  their  death  in  those  grim  morning  hours.  But  a. 
peculiar  exigency  has  singled  out  the  deed  and  given  it  his 
toric  prominence.  In  commenting  upon  it  the  historian  of  the 
Tenth  Vermont  Regiment  says: 

"  Col.  Stephen  Thomas,  the  veteran  commander  of  the  Eighth  Vermont 
Regiment,  and  the  officer  who  did  so  much  to  mend  the  broken  lines  of  his 
corps  at  Winchester,  on  the  iQth  of  September,  now  in  command  of  McMil 
lan's  brigade,  immediately  threw  it  across  the  pike  and  plunged  with  it  into 
the  woods,  where  he  tried  to  arrest  the  fugitives  from  the  Eighth  Corps,  and 
attempted  to  beat  back  the  rebel  host  that  was  then  pressing  unopposed  in 
pursuit.  But  he  was  soon  overwhelmed  and  obliged  to  retire,  leaving  fully 
one  third  of  his  men  dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground." 

Brig.  Gen.  McMillan  says  in  his  report  that,  in  executing 
Emory's  orders,  he  "  put  in  the  Second  Brigade,  Col.  Thomas, 
in  the  position  indicated  [  across  the  pike  ],  occupying  a  deep 
ravine  and  thick  copse  of  wood,  from  which  it  was  soon  driven 
by  overwhelming  force,  but  not  until  completely  flanked,  and 
nearly  one  third  of  its  members  killed,  wounded,  or  captured." 

In  the  history  of  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment 
occurs  this  paragraph  :  "  Col.  Thomas's  brigade  of  the  first 
division  had  faced  to  the  rear,  and  advanced  across  the  pike  to 
meet  the  enemy,  and  fought  him  there  until  completely  over 
borne  by  weight  of  numbers."  The  history  of  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Maine  also  says  :  "  Our  Second  Brigade  was  sent  under 
Col.  Thomas,  a  fighter  of  the  bull-dog  kind,  to  reinforce  Crook's 
command,  and  they  made  a  bull-dog  fight  of  it,  across  the  pike 
near  the  camp  that  Crook  had  been  driven  from,  as  many  dead 
in  blue  and  gray  testified  to  us  who  saw  them  the  next  day." 


212  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

It  seems  that  McMillan's  brigade  had  already  been  pushed  out  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy,  and  to  enable  the  West  Virginian  army  to  rally. 
.  .  .  A  roar  of  musketry  from  the  woods  told  us  Jhat  McMillan's  bri 
gade  had  opened  its  struggle,  but  did  not  tell  us  how  hopelessly  it  was  over 
matched,  flanked  on  the  left  as  it  was  by  Ramseur,  and  charged  in  front 
and  on  the  right  by  Kershaw.  ...  In  the  haste  of  slaughter  men  could 
not  reload,  but  fought  with  their  bayonets  and  clubbed  rifles.  After  the 
battle  was  over  we  found  corpses  here  with  their  skulls  crushed  by  the  blows 
of  musket-butts,  and  with  their  life-blood  clotted  around  the  triangular 
wounds  made  by  bayonets.  .  .  .  During  the  day  the  brigade  lost  more 
than  one  third  of  its  fighting  men,  the  greater  part  of  them  on  this  horrible 
Jiill  of  sacrifice,  where  it  offered  itself  up  for  the  salvation  of  the  army. 
— J.  IV.  de  Forest,  in  Harpers  Magazine. 

Our  brigade  under  Colonel,  since  Brigadier  General,  and  now  Lieutenant 
Governor  Stephen  Thomas,  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  which  regiment  it  in 
cluded,  was  formed  for  the  march  at  the  time  the  fight  commenced,  having 
been  ordered  out  on  an  early  reconnoissance ;  it  plunged  at  once  across  the 
pike  into  the  woods,  stemming  rout,  and  facing  the  enemy.  Gen.  Wright 
endeavored  to  use  it  as  a  nucleus  on  which  to  reform  Crook's  command,  and 
so  gain  time  to  bring  up  the  rest  of  the  army  to  the  strong  line  of  the  turn 
pike.  .  .  .  The  Eighth  Corps  refused  to  rally,  and  in  a  few  moments 
Thomas's  brigade  was  swept  back  overpowered,  retiring  sullenly,  and  leav 
ing  in  the  forest  the  largest  proportionate  loss  suffered  by  any  brigade  during 
the  day. —  Col.  A.  F.  Walker,  in  "  The  Verjnont  Brigade  in  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley." 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Pub 
lication,  dated  "  Staunton,  Va.,  April  6,  1886,"  is  the  following 
language : 

....  Few,  if  any,  troops,  even  the  best  of  veterans,  could  resist  being 
demoralized  by  the  inundatiofi  of  such  a  mass  of  excited  fugitives,  and  Gen. 
Thomas's  command  must  have  been  under  most  admirable  discipline  to 
have  been  able  to  rally  and  form,  under  such  circumstances,  and  for  a  time 
successfully  oppose  the  onward  rush  of  heavy  masses  of  Confederate  troops 
flushed  with  the  excitement  of  hitherto  unopposed  success.  Such  a  display 
of  heroic  fortitude  by  the  men  and  by  the  leader  of  your  command  is 
worthy  of  the  highest  praise  and  admiration.  The  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  that  you  sustained  in  this  brief  shock  of  battle  by  your  own  gal 
lant  regiment  and  by  those  associated  with  it,  are  the  best  proofs  of  the 
fierceness  of  our  attack  and  of  the  courage  and  obstinacy  of  your  defence. 
Your  stay  in  the  position  under  such  odds  must,  of  necessity,  have  been 
short,  for  you  were  not  only  pressed  upon  and  outflanked  by  the  masses  of 


A    FILIAL     TRIBUTE.  213 

Kershaw's  and  of  Gordon's  men  on  the  front,  but  were  soon  threatened  by 
the  advance  of  Wharton's  men  along  the  turnpike,  on  your  right,  for  as  soon 
as  Kershaw  had  successfully  passed  the  ford  at  Bowman's  mill,  Gen.  Early 
had  in  person  ridden  rapidly  to  our  left  to  Wharton's  command,  advancing 
by  the  turnpike,  to  urge  it  and  our  artillery,  all  of  which  was  in  that  part  of 
our  line,  into  action,  especially  to  an  attack  on  your  forces,  part  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  and  all  of  the  Sixth  encamped  north  of  the  turnpike,  and 
that  had  not  been  struck  by  the  attack  of  Kershaw  and  Gordon.  But  your 
stay  was  long  enough  to  enable  the  Sixth  Corps  to  form  and  swing  into 
position  on  the  ridge  beyond  Meadow  run,  where  it  had  been  encamped 
before  any  portion  of  our  attack  could  reach  it,  and  so,  fully  organized,  it 
was  able  to  resist  for  some  hours  our  efforts  to  dislodge  it  from  our  flank ; 
and  when  compelled  by  the  weight  of  our  artillery  to  fall  back,  it  appeared 
to  do  so  in  good  order,  so  that  it  was  in  condition  to  participate  in  your  sub 
sequent  successful  attack  on  our  line  of  battle  just  beyond  Middletown. 

The  soldierly  honors  of  the  day  on  your  side,  the  honors  that  always  have 
been  and  that  always  will  be  awarded  to  the  men  that  unflinchingly  take  any 
odds  when  duty  calls  to  action,  appear,  beyond  question,  from  the  stand 
point  of  present  information,  to  belong  to  the  brave  men  of  your  command. 
In  recognition  of  their  display  of  such  courage,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  have 
it  in  my  power  to  salute  them,  whether  living  honored  among  their  com 
rades  or  dead  on  the  field  of  honorable  contest. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JED.  HOTCHKISS, 

Formerly  Topographical  Engineer 
of  the  Army  of  the  Valley  District  of  the  Confederate  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

Following  such  testimony,  the  words  of  Gen.  Emory  himself, 
concerning  the  execution  of  his  order,  add  peculiar  significance 
to  that  notable  act  of  heroism,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  insert  in 
these  memorial  pages  the  portrait  and  letter  of  their  old  com 
mander,  under  whom  the  regiment  served  with  a  glad  confi 
dence.  Maj.  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Emory  was  a  brave  and  skilful 
leader,  whose  military  judgment  every  soldier  felt  to  be  reliable. 
In  camp  and  field  alike,  on  the  march  and  under  the  hottest 
fire,  he  had  a  personal  care  for  his  men  and  inspired  them  by 
his  own  courageous  example.  His  ride  in  front  of  the  lines 
during  the  battle  of  Opequon  made  the  Green  Mountain 
veterans  confident  of  victory,  and  his  firm  commands  after  the 
morning  surprise  at  Cedar  Creek,  reassured  and  gave  them 
hope. 


214  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

WASHINGTON,  Oct.  16,  1885. 
MY  DEAR  COL.  CARPENTER: 

I  am  very  glad  to  learn  that  you  are  about  to  write  a  regimental  history 
of  the  Eighth  Vermont  United  States  Volunteers.  \Vlien  I  sent  its  heroic 
colonel,  Gen.  Thomas,  across  the  pike  at  Cedar  Creek,  to  support  the 
Eighth  Corps  under  Gen.  Crook,  I  was  immediately  occupied  in  defending 
my  own  headquarters,  and  in  changing  the  front  of  battle  of  the  Nineteenth 
Corps,  which  was  assailed  in  the  rear  by  the  total  collapse  of  the  Eighth 
Corps.  But  I  well  knew  the  gallantry  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  and  of  the 
officers  who  commanded  it,  and  I  felt  safe  in  doing  the  only  thing  that  could 
have  been  done  under  the  terrible  circumstances  surrounding  us. 

Both  in  Louisiana  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont  was  a  solid  and  reliable  regiment,  that  could  be  depended  on  under 
the  scorching  heats  of  the  South  as  well  as  the  rigorous  winter  climate  of 
the  Shenandoah. 

I  remain,  Colonel,  with  great  regard, 

Your  comrade  and  friend, 

VV.  H.  EMORY. 

Col.  Herbert  E.  Hill,  who  has  made  a  faithful  study  of  the 
history  of  the  battle,  contributes  the  following  description  of 
the  movements  in  which  his  regiment  took  part. 


THE  MORNING  FIGHT. 

In  the  morning  fight  at  Cedar  Creek,  the  colors  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont  passed  through  a  terrible  ordeal,  and  received  a 
bloody  baptism.  But  for  the  heroic  and  loyal  souls  in  that 
little  band,  who  stood  up  nobly  against  fearful  odds  on  the 
memorable  morning  of  October  iQth,  1864,  the  regimental 
standard  would  never  have  come  out  of  the  battle  triumphant. 

The  thrilling  story  of  the  fight  over  the  standards  is  no  myth. 
It  was  a  horrid,  desperate,  hand-to-hand  encounter  for  posses 
sion  of  the  flags  —  a  fierce,  excited,  and  daring  foe  on  one  side, 
loyal  and  equally  brave  men  on  the  other.  Gen  Crook's  corps, 
located  on  our  left  and  partially  in  our  front,  had  been  surprised, 
overborne,  and  swept  away.  Gen.  Thomas,  after  a  furious  ride, 
hotly  pursued  and  barely  escaping  with  his  life,  had  arrived 
from  the  picket  line,  and,  by  direct  verbal  order  of  Maj.  Gen. 
Emory,  had  led  his  brigade  forward  across  the  pike,  a  mere 


Forbes  Co. 


MAJ,  GEN.  WM.  H,  EMORY. 


STRUGGLING    FOR    THE    FLAGS.  21$ 

handful  of  men,  to  meet  and  resist  whole  divisions  made  up  of 
the  flower  of  the  rebel  army. 

By  the  fortune  of  war,  the  Eighth  Vermont,  under  Maj. 
Mead,  occupied  the  most  exposed  position  in  the  brigade,  as 
the  enemy,  with  deafening  yells,  were  moving  swiftly  in  from, 
front  and  flank.  As  the  great  drops  of  rain  and  hail  precede  the 
hurricane,  so  now  the  leaden  hail  filled  the  air,  seemingly  from 
all  directions,  while  bursting  shell  from  the  enemy's  cannon  on 
the  opposite  hill  created  havoc  on  our  only  flank  not  yet  exposed 
to  the  rebel  infantry.  Regiment  after  regiment  of  the  Eighth 
Corps  had  crumbled  away  and  gone  past  to  the  rear ;  our  two 
companion  regiments,  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  and  One  Hun 
dred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  terribly  smitten,  clung  tenaciously 
to  us,  their  love  as  cordially  reciprocated  ;  yet  the  sudden  rush 
of  the  enemy  from  every  direction,  in  their  yellowish  suits, 
breaking  through  even  the  short  intervals  between  the  com 
mands,  forced  each  regiment  to  fight  its  own  battle ;  and  so  the 
Eighth  Vermont  was  practically  alone  for  a  time,  —  and  who  can 
count  such  moments?  —  as  the  swarming  enemy  broke  upon  it 
with  almost  resistless  fury. 

Suddenly  a  mass  of  rebels  confronted  the  flags,  and 
with  hoarse  shouts  demanded  their  surrender.  Defiant  shouts 
went  back.  "  Never  !  "  "  Never  !  "  And  then,  amid  tremendous 
excitement,  commenced  one  of  the  most  desperate  and  ugly 
hand-to-hand  conflicts  over  the  flags  that  has  ever  been  recorded. 
Men  seemed  more  like  demons  than  human  beings,  as  they 
struck  fiercely  at  each  other  with  clubbed  muskets  and  bayo 
nets.  A  rebel  of  powerful  build,  but  short  in  stature,  attempted 
to  bayonet  Corporal  Worden  of  the  color-guard.  Worden,  a 
tall,  sinewy  man,  who  had  no  bayonet  on  his  musket,  parried 
his  enemy's  thrusts  until  some  one,  I  think  Sergt.  Brown,  shot 
the  rebel  dead.  A  rebel  soldier  then  levelled  his  musket  and 
shot  Corporal  Petre,  who  held  the  colors,  in  the  thigh, — a 
terrible  wound,  from  which  he  died  that  night.  He  cried  out  : 
"  Boys,  leave  me  ;  take  care  of  yourselves  and  the  flag  !  "  But 
in  that  vortex  of  hell  men  did  not  forget  the  colors  ;  and  as 
Petre  fell  and  crawled  away  to  die,  they  were  instantly  seized  and 


2l6  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

borne  aloft  by  Corporal  Perham,  and  were  as  quickly  demanded 
again,  by  a  rebel  who  eagerly  attempted  to  grasp  them  ;  but 
Sergt.  Shores  of  the  guard  placed  his  musket  at  4he  man's  breast 
and  fired,  instantly  killing  him.  But  now  another  flash,  and  a 
cruel  bullet  from  the  dead  rebel's  companion  killed  Corporal 
Perham,  and  the  colors  fall  to  the  earth.  Once  more,  amid 
terrific  yells,  the  colors  went  up,  this  time  held  by  Corporal 
Blanchard  ;  —  and  the  carnage  went  on. 

Lieut.  Cooper  was  seen  to  raise  his  arm  in  the  air ;  and 
shouting  "  Give  it  to  them,  boys  !  "  he  too  was  stricken  with  a 
death  wound,  and  his  white,  sad,  dead  face  is  one  of  the  living 
memories  of  the  spot.  Lieut.  Cooper's  death  was  instantly 
avenged,  however,  by  Sergt.  Hill,  of  Company  A,  who  shot  the 
rebel.  Hill  then  turned  to  assist  a  wounded  companion  who 
had  fallen  at  his  side,  when  an  excited  enemy  made  a  lunge  at 
him,  his  bayonet  gliding  between  the  body  and  arm.  He  sprang 
quickly  away,  and  by  an  adroit  movement  knocked  the  rebel 
down  with  clubbed  musket,  and  continued  fighting  until  sur 
rounded  and  forced  into  the  enemy's  ranks,  but  refused  to 
surrender,  when  a  side  shot  tore  away  his  belt,  cartridge  box, 
and  the  flesh  to  his  backbone,  which  crippled  him  to  the  ground  ; 
but  when  Gordon's  divisions  swept  the  spot,  some  of  the  rebels 
wearing  blue  coats  supposed  to  be  taken  from  Crook's  men, 
Hill  rose  and  joined  them  in  the  charge,  shouting  with  the 
rebels,  and  actually  firing  harmless  shots  at  his  own  regiment. 
He  was  once  challenged  by  a  rebel  officer,  to  whom  he 
answered  that  he  belonged  to  the  Fourth  Georgia. 

At  the  next  stand  macle  by  the  brigade  on  the  pike,  Hill 
rushed  into  the  Union  line,  although  exposed  to  the  fire  of  his 
friends  as  well  as  his  foes,  and  continued  fighting  till  he  sank 
to  the  ground  from  loss  of  blood,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands, 
and  was  again  rescued  at  night. 

The  fight  for  the  colors  continued.  A  rebel  discharged  his 
rifle  within  a  foot  of  Corporal  Bemis  of  the  color  guard,  and 
wounded  him,  but  was  in  turn  shot  dead  by  one  of  our  men. 
A  little  later,  Sergt.  Shores  and  Lemuel  Simpson  were 
standing  together  by  the  flags,  when  three  rebels  attacked  and 


FALLING    FROM    THE    RANKS.  2 1/ 

ordered  them  to  surrender ;  but  as  they  (the  enemy)  had  just 
discharged  their  pieces,  Simpson  immediately  fired  and  shot 
one,  while  Shores  bayoneted  the  other.  Sergt.  Moran,  whose 
devotion  to  the  flag  was  intensified  by  the  regiment's  forty-four 
days'  heroic  action  before  Port  Hudson,  marvellously  escaped, 
for  he  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  and  held  the  United 
States  flag  all  the  while,  several  times  assisting  in  protecting 
the  colors. 

But  as  the  enemy  crowded  on,  a  hundred  rebels  took  the 
place  of  the  dozen  grasping  for  the  flags.  Sergt.  Lamb,  a  noble, 
generous  fellow,  was  shot  through  the  lungs  and  taken  prisoner, 
but  later  he  fell  into  our  hands  again,  and  then  died  in  great 
agony.  Capt.  Howard  was  twice  wounded  while  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  flags  and  almost  in  the  centre  of  the  savage  melee, 
but  he  managed  to  hobble  away  when  the  regiment  was  swept 
back.  Capt.  Hall,  honest  and  fearless,  whose  memory  is 
sacred,  gave  his  last  order  as  he  yielded  to  a  deadly  wound. 

Capt.  Ford  was  shot  through  both  legs  by  bullets  coming 
from  opposite  directions,  and  fell  flat  on  his  face,  but  refused 
to  surrender,  struggled  to  his  feet,  and  escaped  in  the  excite 
ment.  Capt.  Smith,  who  so  coolly  led  the  skirmish  line  at 
Winchester,  swells  the  bloody  list.  Maj.  Mead,  afterwards 
colonel,  while  fearlessly  facing  the  enemy,  was  badly  wounded 
in  the  side,  and  shortly  turned  the  command  over  to  Capt. 
McFarland. 

Later  on,  the  brigade  flag  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being 
captured  by  the  enemy,  when  Capt.  Franklin,  with  half  a  dozen 
of  his  company,  furiously  attacked  the  rebels  who  were 
struggling  for  it,  and  rescued  it  from  their  clutch.  Moving 
back  he  was  wounded,  but  gallantly  remained  with  the  regiment 
during  the  afternoon.  Lieut.  Cheney  was  mortally  wounded 
and  fell  heavily  to  the  ground.  Lieut.  Bruce,  while  beating 
back  a  foe  with  his  sword,  was  severely  wounded.  Lieut.  Welch, 
who  so  gallantly  led  the  skirmish  line  at  daybreak,  and  was 
then  fighting  like  a  tiger,  was  shot  in  the  thigh,  but  stood  his 
ground  till  the  regiment  went  back.  Private  Austin  received 
a  terrible  blow  on  his  head  from  the  butt  of  a  rebel  musket, 


2l8  THE    EIGHTH    VERMOXT. 

instantly  killing  him.  Capt.  Shattuck,  after  receiving  a  bad 
wound,  bravely  continued  with  his  men,  and  Lieuts.  Sargent 
and  Carpenter  joined  the  list  of  heroes  \uho  shed  their  blood 
around  the  flags  ;  while  scores  of  brave  fellows  in  the  ranks 
were  torn  and  shattered  in  a  manner  shocking  to  behold.  But 
why  continue  the  list  ?  Why  open  afresh  the  ugly  wounds  ? 
Those  not  mentioned,  who  stood  up  so  nobly,  were  every  whit 
as  brave  as  all  who  fell,  whose  names  appear  elsewhere  on  the 
"  immortal  roll  of  honor." 

The  fearful  carnage  had  swept  through  the  entire  command, 
and  over  one  half  the  regiment  was  wounded  or  killed,  when 
the  third  color-bearer,  Corporal  Blanchard,  was  also  killed,  and 
the  silken  colors,  their  soft  folds  pierced  with  bullets,  and 
their  third  bearer  weltering  in  his  blood,  bowed  low  to  the 
earth  amidst  triumphant  yells  of  the  enemy ;  but  to  their 
chagrin  in  a  few  seconds  it  was  again  flaunting  in  their  faces. 
Bleeding,  stunned,  and  being  literally  cut  to  pieces,  but  refus 
ing  to  surrender  colors  or  men,  falling  back  only  to  prevent 
being  completely  encircled,  the  noble  regiment  had  accom 
plished  its  mission. 

Col.  Thomas  with  his  brave  brigade  blocked  the  advance  of 
the  rebel  divisions,  and  actually  held  the  Confederate  army  at 
bay  until  the  Union  commander  could  form  the  lines  on  grounds 
of  his  own  choice.  In  this  terrible  charge  the  Eighth  Vermont, 
the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth 
New  York,  were  almost  annihilated.  Our  own  regiment  lost 
over  one  hundred  gallant  fellows,  out  of  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  engaged,  and  thirteen  out  of  sixteen  commissioned  offi 
cers,  who  were  killed  or  wounded  in  the  fearful  struggle,  and 
many  of  those  who  fell  had  been  shot  several  times. 

It  was  useless  to  stand  against  such  fearful  odds;  neither 
could  such  frightful  butchery  be  endured  longer  ;  and  the 
regiment,  which  had  maintained  its  organization  and  gloriously 
performed  its  mission  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check,  now 
almost  completely  surrounded  by  dense  masses  of  rebel  infantry, 
was  for  a  few  moments  tossed  about  as  a  leaf  in  the  small,  fitful 
circle  of  a  whirlwind,  and  then  by  a  mighty  gust  lifted  from 


ONE    LONE    BRIGADE.  2 19 

the  ground  and  swept  from  the  field,  but  not  without  the  flags. 
Moran,  Shores,  and  Holt,  three  trusty  sergeants,  and  Corp. 
Worden,  with  others  who  had  become  wedded  to  the  standards, 
would  as  soon  have  thought  of  leaving  their  limbs  on  the  field 
as  the  flags,  now  more  than  sacred.  But  the  flags  still  floated 
over  our  heads,  and  a  star  of  great  brilliancy  had  been  added 
to  the  crown  of  the  state  which  gave  us  an  Ethan  Allen  and  a 
Stephen  Thomas. 

When  nearly  encircled  and  driven  from  the  pike,  the  com 
mand  of  Col.  Thomas  made  another  stand  northeast  of  Sheridan's 
headquarters,  to  support  the  only  piece  of  Union  artillery  that 
had  not  been  withdrawn  from  the  field.  For  this  purpose  the 
colonel  collected  fugitives  from  the  Eighth  Corps,  and  with  his 
own  brigade  formed  a  line,  and  held  the  position  until  a  portion 
of  a  wagon  train  entangled  in  Meadow  run  could  pass  on  and 
escape.  While  thus  engaged  Gen.  Crook  rode  up,  and,  after 
saluting  him,  Col.  Thomas  said  :  "I've  taken  the  liberty  to  put 
some  of  your  men  into  this  line  in  order  to  save  that  train." 
"  All  right ! "  replied  Crook,  as  he  rode  away  as  he  came, 
unattended  by  even  an  orderly.  Then  instead  of  moving 
directly  to  the  rear,  as  the  rest  of  the  Union  troops  had  done, 
Thomas  took  his  command  round  the  front  of  the  Belle  Grove 
House,  and  made  a  second  stand  just  west  of  it.  Then  he 
crossed  Meadow  run  and  made  a  third  stand  in  the  rear  of  the 
camp  deserted  by  the  Sixth  Corps.  It  was  here  that  the  bri 
gade  flagstaff  was  cut  down  by  a  Confederate  cannon  shot. 

Still,  notwithstanding  the  advantages  gained  and  the  gallant 
contest  for  every  foot  of  ground,  the  enemy  was  haughty,  arro 
gant,  and  aggressive,  and  our  army  had  been  driven  back  sev 
eral  miles,  when  Sheridan  arrived  and  here  "  took  the  affair  in 
hand,"  and  quickly  united  the  corps. 

All  the  long  morning  the  cry  was  heard  on  every  side, 
"  Where  's  Sheridan  ?  "  "  Where  's  Sheridan  ?  "  but  no  reply 
came  through  the  clenched  lips,  until  finally,  at  a  quarter  of 
ten  o'clock,  Sheridan,  mounted  on  his  black  horse  Winchester, 
which  was  covered  with  foam,  swept  up  from  the  pike  amid 
great  cheering  into  the  midst  of  his  broken  regiments,  —  a 


220  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

great  light  in  a  dark  valley.  The  despair  of  the  morning's 
awful  struggle  was  now  soon  to  give  way  to  the  ecstasy  of  vic 
tory.  m  : 

THE    AFTERNOON    FIGHT. 

In  the  after  part  of  the  day  the  Eighth  Regiment,  reinforced 
by  detachments  from  the  picket  line,  bore  an  honorable  part 
with  the  Second  Brigade  in  deciding  the  Union  victory. 

During  Sheridan's  absence  in  the  morning,  the  army,  as 
has  been  described,  experienced  all  that  is  known  under,  the 
name  of  defeat.  The  enemy  had  halted  in  his  hot  pursuit  to 
reorganize  preparatory  to  the  final  move  forward,  which  should 
completely  annihilate  the  Federal  army.  Sheridan  hastily 
formed  a  line  across  the  valley  for  the  purpose  of  checking  the 
advancing  foe,  and  to  that  end  phantom  breastworks  had  been 
hurriedly  thrown  up  by  means  that  under  almost  any  other  cir 
cumstances  would  have  been  thought  out  of  the  question  and 
useless.  Small  trees  were  cut  down  and  thrown  in  front  ;  with 
bayonets  earth  and  stones  were  dug  up  or  loosened,  and  with 
coffee  cups  this  was  thrown  in  among  the  brush  and  leaves, 
together  forming  a  slight  protection  against  the  enemy's  bul 
lets,  whenever  he  should  advance  again.  Imagine,  then,  the 
surprise  and  amazement  when  Sheridan  dashed  over  the  field  and 
gave  us  the  order  to  advance  and  meet  the  enemy  in  open  fight. 

It  was  now  life  or  death,  and  every  man  knew  it.  The  order 
was  instantly  obeyed,  and  what  were  left  of  the  Second  Brigade 
sprang  over  the  little  earthworks,  and  moved  rapidly  to  the 
front  until  they  approached  the  timber.  Here  were  scattering 
trees  with  thick  underbrush,  from  which  there  suddenly  burst 
a  sheet  of  flame  and  smoke,  before  which  the  regiment  slightly 
recoiled,  so  terrible  was  the  shock.  Crashes  of  musketry  rolled 
down  the  entire  line  to  the  left.  Sheridan  was  riding  furiously 
among  the  troops.  Regimental  officers  were  shouting  their 
commands,  and  the  hideous  rebel  yell  rent  the  air  and  added  to 
the  general  confusion.  The  rebel  commander  also  realized 
Sheridan's  presence,  but  with  pangs  of  pain,  for  he  well  knew 
that  the  lightning  strokes  and  the  tiger  springs  of  the  Union 


HEADQUARTERS  ARMY 

OF  THE 

UNITED   STATES. 


**~ 


(/ 


*Z-^- 


^iv^^Zg^ 

/    '  s     ^ 

^ti*zr/sz^> 


,v 


~^£  ^ 


A     TURN    OF    THE     TIDE.  221 

regiments  against  his  front,  were  being  directed  by  a   masterly 
hand. 

Lieut.  Downs,  at  my  side,  shouted  "  Forward,  men,  forward  !  " 
Other  company  commanders,  including  Capt.  McFarland,  who 
had  commanded  the  regiment  after  Mead  was  wounded,  and 
Capt.  Franklin,  sprang  forward  and  urged  the  men  on.  Quickly 
the  regiment  dashed  into  the  thick  cedars,  pouring  a  rapid 
volley  into  the  very  faces  of  hidden  foes.  This  rush  brought  us 
into  close  quarters  ;  and,  our  own  volleys  exhausted,  we  again 
met  spattering  crashes  of  musketry  following  in  quick  succes 
sion,  and  the  regiment  once  more  partially  recoiled  before  the 
withering  fire.  Commanding  officers  vied  with  each  other  in 
urging  the  men  on,  and  the  instant  the  enemy's  volley  slack 
ened,  the  regiment  swept  forward  and  upon  the  rebel  line, 
which  was  only  a  few  yards  distant  and  in  plain  sight;  only  the 
low  cedar  bushes  separated  us.  A  mighty  shout  went  up,  and 
at  that  instant  we  realized  that  the  enemy's  line  was  giving 
way,  and  we  occupied  the  ground  they  held  a  moment  before. 

It  is  useless  to  attempt  to  describe  the  excitement  of  the 
next  few  moments,  as  the  regiment  flung  itself,  so  to  speak,  upon 
the  enemy.  After  the  terrible  experience  in  the  morning,  it 
was  but  natural  in  this  moment  of  victory  that  the  men  should 
go  to  the  opposite  extreme  of  exultation  ;  and  again,  as  in  the 
morning,  virtually  we  were  fighting  alone,  for  the  woods  to  our 
left  shut  off  the  main  army  from  our  view.  We  were  fighting 
in  a  jungle,  and  only  by  the  roar  of  battle  and  the  wild  shouts 
and  yells  which  rose  above  the  din  of  artillery,  could  we  deter 
mine  the  position  of  the  Union  and  rebel  lines  to  our  left. 

As  a  fact,  there  was  a  continuous  line  along  our  entire  front, 
and  as  far  as  we  could  see  to  the  left  and  some  distance  beyond 
our  right  flank,  we  had  driven  this  line  back,  but  as  yet  were 
unable  to  pierce  it.  Every  inch  of  the  ground  was  stubbornly 
contested.  The  opportune  time  for  the  brigade  had  come. 
Owing  to  the  clearing  and  favorable  condition  of  the  ground, 
Thomas's  own  regiment  gained  a  decided  advance,  pierced 
the  enemy  like  an  arrowhead,  and  had  the  fortune  to 
witness  the  first  break  in  their  line.  We  emerged  from 


222  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

the  woods,  and  to  our  front  was  an  open  field  for  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  unobstructed  save  by  the  tall  dried  grass  and  frag 
ments  of  a  zigzag  rail  fence.  The  entire  distance  on  the  left 
of  the  opening  was  flanked  by  patches  of  timber.  Halfway 
across  there  was  a  slight  depression.  To  the  right  the  ground 
rose  quite  abruptly,  so  that  the  right  of  the  brigade  in  charg 
ing  across  the  open  space  would  find  itself  considerably  higher 
than  the  left  or  centre.  On  the  right  and  beyond  the  centre 
was  quite  a  large  area  covered  by  tall  trees  and  underbrush, 
and  beyond  this  a  sharp  descent. 

As  the  brigade  entered  the  open  field,  the  enemy's  line 
stretched  across  our  front,  and  but  a  few  rods  in  advance  ;  and, 
as  if  realizing  the  tremendous  responsibility  of  the  movement, 
it  swept  into  the  field  on  the  run.  Owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  the  men  crowded  together,  but  just  as  the  rebel 
line  was  reached  it  broke.  The  supreme  moment  had  arrived, 
and  with  wild  shouts  the  brigade  dashed  ahead.  We  pierced 
the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and  from  that  moment  his  doom 
was  sealed.  All  was  now  confusion  :  a  portion  of  the  enemy's 
line  surged  down  to  the  left  and  into  the  woods.  Others 
retreated  on  the  run  in  our  front,  while  another  portion,  perhaps 
to  the  number  of  two  or  three  hundred,  rushed  to  the  right  and 
into  the  timber,  which  offered  the  most  natural  and  immediate 
protection. 

In  the  meantime  Gen.  Thomas's  horse  was  shot  and  fell  to 
the  ground.  Suddenly,  spattering  shots,  quickly  increasing  to  a 
rapid  fire,  came  down  from  the  trees  on  the  right.  The  firing 
was  from  the  body  of  'rebels  which  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
timber ;  and  instead  of  retreating  beyond,  as  we  supposed,  only 
to  be  captured  by  our  cavalry,  had  boldly  returned  to  the  attack 
and  opened  a  murderous  fire  into  the  right  flank  and  rear  of  the 
brigade. 

I  stood  near  our  regimental  colors,  which  had  halted,  probably 
on  account  of  the  accident  to  the  general,  and  shouted  to  the 
men  to  return  or  the  flags  would  be  captured.  The  sharp  firing 
from  the  right  instantly  attracted  the  attention  of  the  regiment, 
and  in  squads  and  singly  within  five  minutes  most  of  them 


VICTORY   ASSURED.  22$ 

returned  to  the  colors.  The  enemy's  fire  was  rapidly  returned, 
the  men  firing  at  will,  when  by  order  of  Gen.  Thomas  the 
brigade  with  shouts  and  yells  charged  into  the  woods.*  The 
enemy  broke  in  great  confusion  and  ran  to  the  south  and  west. 
The  brigade  then  swung  to  the  front  again,  and  with  excited 
shouts  and  cheers,  accompanied  by  Gen.  Thomas  on  foot,  rushed 
on  after  the  now  thoroughly  defeated  and  disheartened  foe.f 

It  was  a  singular  coincidence  that  the  brigade  which  marched 
out  and  met  the  fiercest  fire  in  the  morning,  and  suffered  the 
heaviest  loss,  was  the  first  to  pierce  the  enemy's  line  in  the 
afternoon.  There  was  also  a  grim  satisfaction  in  knowing  that 
the  swath  was  being  cut  through  the  identical  divisions  from 
which  we  recived  the  combined  assault  at  early  dawn. 

Here  again  human  nature  showed  itself  as  some  of  the  men 
jumped  up  and  down,  shouted,  threw  their  hats  or  caps  into  the 
air  in  their  excitement.  I  remember  distinctly  at  that  moment 
looking  back  and  seeing  a  line  approaching  from  the  rear  and 
left  which  I  suppose  to  have  been  the  troops  Gen.  McMillan 
mentions  in  his  report  as  the  two  regiments  of  the  First  Bri 
gade,  ordered  to  swing  to  the  right  and  assist  in  dislodging  the 
hidden  foe.  But  as  a  fact  they  did  not  come  within  hailing 
distance  until  after  we  had  charged  and  routed  the  enemy. 

Early's  left  flank  (Evans's  brigade)  was  now  completely  shat 
tered,  and  his  demoralized  forces  retreated  rapidly  toward  his 
centre,  with  the  exception  of  the  few  who  went  off  to  the  right. 
Then  we  charged  down  into  Gordon's  other  brigades,  and  soon 
found  ourselves  in  advance  of  the  main  army.  Sheridan  was  in 
at  the  break.  He  was  mounted  on  his  gray  charger,  to 
which  he  had  changed  from  the  black  horse  Winchester,  and 
once  during  the  fight  was  so  near  we  could  have  touched 

*  The  attack  was  brilliantly  made;  the  enemy's  resistance  was  very  determined.  His  line 
of  battle  overlapped  mine,  and  by  turning  with  that  portion  of  it  on  the  flank  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps  caused  a.  slight  momentary  confusion.  This  movement  was  checked,  however, 
by  a  charge  of  McMillan's  brigade  on  there-entering  angle,  and  the  enemy's  flanking  party 
was  cut  off. — Gen.  Sheridan's  report. 

t  Then  followed  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  reversals  in  the  history  of  any  war. 
Sheridan  moved  around  our  flank,  swept  down  it,  and  broke  our  line  all  to  fragments. — 
Gen.  Gordon 's  account,  Burr's  history. 


224  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

him.  Here  in  a  nutshell  was  the  secret  of  his  success : 
First,  Sheridan  had  the  absolute  confidence  of  his  men. 
He  won  it.  He  was  never  known  to  .ask  or  order  his 
men  to  go  where  he  would  not  go  himself.  He  often  rode 
furiously  into  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  apparently  a  reckless 
exposure  of  life  ;  but  his  presence  aroused  his  soldiers  to  per 
form  deeds  of  valor  hitherto  thought  impossible.  Second, 
Sheridan  always  fought  by  a  plan,  as  on  the  bloody  plains  of 
Winchester  and  the  ragged  heights  of  Fisher's  Hill.  So  here 
his  plan  unfolded  itself  to  the  men  as  the  battle  progressed, 
revealing  in  the  bright  light  of  victory  his  rare  military  strategy. 

Just  here  another  rare  privilege  was  accorded  to  the  Eighth 
Vermont,  for  as  we  turned  forever  from  this  scene,  we  caught  sight 
for  a  moment  of  the  dashing  Custer,  that  prince  of  horsemen, 
on  an  opposite  eminence  towards  the  setting  sun,  as  he  started 
with  his  famous  division  on  that  fierce  charge  which  did  not  end 
till  long  after  dark,  and  in  terrible  loss  to  the  retreating  foe. 

After  this  there  were  vain  attempts  to  check  our  onward 
course ;  but  there  was  hardly  a  halt  of  the  regiment  as  we 
pressed  through  the  timber  or  clearing,  with  two  or  three 
exceptions, —  the  first,  when  we  encountered  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  on  one  occasion  felt  almost  sure  they  were  within 
our  grasp  ;  but  after  emptying  themselves  of  grape  and  canis 
ter,  they -were  hauled  off  to  our  left  and  front,  to  annoy  us  again 
further  on.  The  second,  when  we  were  crowding  them  on  too 
closely,  they  savagely  turned  and  shot  down  Corp.  Worden,  our 
temporary  color-bearer.  This  only  seemed  to  rouse  the  regi 
ment  to  further  effort, /and  it  pressed  fiercely  on  again. 

Wounded  and  dead  men  marked  the  enemy's  pathway  as  we 
rushed  over  logs,  fences,  and  through  thickets,  till  the  regiment 
emerged  from  the  timber  and  came  out  on  the  brow  of  a  hill, 
in  advance  of  any  other  Union  troops,  and  in  full  view  of  almost 
the  entire  rebel  army.  What  a  sight !  Such  as  our  army  never 
beheld  before,  and  never  would  again  ;  the  event  of  a  lifetime.* 

*  When  Evans's  brigade  gave  way,  Gordon's  other  brigades  soon  followed.  Gen.  Gordon 
made  every  possible  effort  to  rally  his  men,  but  without  avail.  The  information  of  this  affair 
passed  rapidly  along  Kershaw's  and  Ramseur's  lines,  and  their  men,  under  fear  of  being 
flanked,  commenced  falling  back  in  disorder. — Gen.  Early's  report. 


PUSHING    THE    FOE.  22$ 

We  had  completed  so  much  of  a  turn  as  to  face  nearly  east, 
and  double  the  enemy's  left  back  upon  their  centre,  and  stood 
on  their  flank  overlooking  what  then  became  a  great,  rushing, 
turbulent,  retreating  army,  without  line  or  apparent  organiza 
tion,  hurrying  and  crowding  on  in  mad  retreat.  Back  across 
the  sea  of  half-upturned  faces  of  the  enemy  we  could  see  the 
Union  flags  advancing  amid  the  belt  of  smoke  and  -flame  that 
half  encircled  the  doomed  Confederates,  while  there  was  a 
continual  roar  of  musketry  and  artillery. 

While  the  mighty  panorama  streamed  on  in  utter  confusion, 
our  men  strained  every  nerve  to  make  the  most  of  their 
opportunity,  for  every  shot  told,  and  there  seemed  to  be  a 
savage  fascination  in  avenging  the  terrible  loss  suffered  in  the 
morning  fight.  But  at  that  moment,  the  Sixth  Corps,  seeing 
our  men  across  the  skirt  of  the  meadow,  mistook  them  for 
Confederates,  and  fired  upon  them,  before  the  error  was  dis 
covered.  But  the  regiment  ceased  firing,  and  waved  its  flags, 
to  enable  the  Sixth  Corps  to  identify  it. 

This  danger  soon  past,  the  regiment  resumed  firing  with  a 
vengeance,  only  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy's  artillery, 
and  a  battery  of  two  guns  opened  on  us  from  a  little  eminence 
opposite  our  right  and  across  the  meadow.  The  first  shot 
buried  itself  in  the  bank  below ;  then  a  second,  and  a  little 
nearer ;  while  the  third  plunged  underneath  us,  tearing  up  the 
ground  and  whirling  the  writer  completely  about.  The  regi 
ment  at  this  point  lost  several  badly  wounded,  and  two  or  three 
killed. 

An  officer  rode  up  from  the  rear  and  hurriedly  ordered  Col. 
Thomas  to  charge  and  take  the  battery.  " That's  what  we  are 
after,  sir,"  replied  Thomas  ;  u  I  'm  only  waiting  for  support." 
As  a  fact,  the  Eighth  Regiment  at  that  moment  was  entirely 
alone.  But  the  order  to  move  forward  was  given,  and  the 
regiment  dashed  down  the  bank  skirting  the  meadow  and 
alongside  the  flying  fragments  of  rebel  regiments,  closely  fol 
lowed  by  the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  cheering  as  they  ran.  The 
battery  saw  us  coming,  and  fired  with  redoubled  energy,  but 
our  close  proximity  and  the  depression  of  the  ground  saved  us 
15 


226  THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 

from  loss,  and  in  their  confusion  the  gunners  fired  wildly,  so 
that  most  of  the  storm  intended  for  us  fell  short  or  swept  just 
over  our  heads.  The  battery  would  ha\^  been  captured, 
but  the  guns  were  hastily  hauled  down  the  opposite  slope  out  of 
our  clutches,  to  join  in  the  grand  rush  across  Cedar  Creek, 
under  a  shower  of  bullets  from  our  victorious  rifles. 

As  the  pursuing  infantry  reached  again  the  ground  where  their 
morning  camp  had  stood,  the  Eighth  Vermont  still  in  advance, 
a  halt  of  half  an  hour  was  made,  for  bringing  in  our  wounded 
men,  some  of  whom  fell  in  the  morning  and  had  lain  all  day  on 
the  disputed  field,  and  were  shivering  in  the  raw  night  air. 
Fire  was  built,  and  coffee  prepared  for  the  refreshment  of  the 
men  after  their  long  fast ;  but  before  it  could  be  served,  orders 
came  to  advance  again,  and,  leaving  the  wounded  to  the 
surgeons,  and  the  dead  uncared  for,  on  we  went  again,  after 
the  flying  foe. 

The  enemy  crossed  Cedar  Creek,  hurried  on  and  entrenched 
near  midnight  behind  their  old  breastworks,  beyond  Fort  Banks 
and  Strasburg.  But  our  regiment  followed  closely,  and,  crawl 
ing  up  under  their  works,  found  themselves  on  the  very  spot 
they  had  occupied  the  night  before  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill. 
The  men  lay  on  their  arms,  under  strict  orders  to  observe  silence 
and  not  even  to  speak  aloud.  But  before  daylight  Thomas 
moved  his  regiment  back  to  Fort  Banks.  Rosser's  cavalry  still 
hovered  on  the  pike  below,  and  the  Union  cavalry  coming  up, 
the  regiment  had  a  chance  to  watch  from  its  position  a  brief 
but  sharp  engagement  before  the  rebel  horsemen  fled. 

During  the  day  the  army  captured  from  the  enemy  forty-eight 
cannon,  including  twenty-four  taken  from  us  in  the  morning, 
ten  battle  flags,  thousands  of  small  arms,  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners,  and  Early's  army  was  virtually  annihilated.  The 
Eighth  Vermont  entered  the  fight  nearly  two  hours  earlier  than 
the  other  Vermont  troops.  It  received  the  fiercest  charge  of 
the  day.  Its  relative  loss  of  numbers  actually  engaged  in  the 
morning  fight  was  heavier  than  that  of  any  other  Union  regi 
ment.  It  led  the  charge  back,  and  was  a  part  of  the  "arrow 
head  "  which  had  the  honor  to  first  pierce  the  enemy's  line  of 


RECAP/TULA  TION.  22J 

battle  in  the  afternoon  ;  —  maintaining  that  advance,  it  was  at 
midnight  farther  to  the  front  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  than  any 
of  Sheridan's  infantry.  Thus  closed  the  battle. 

While  Col.  Thomas  was  warning  the  Union  commander  on 
the  very  eve  of  battle,  the  Confederate  general  Gordon  was  at 
that  moment  selecting  a  pathway  through  which  his  divisions, 
including  Stonewall  Jackson's  old  brigade,  should,  under  cover 
of  darkness,  creep  on  their  way  to  the  world-renowned  charge 
that  fell  with  such  awful  fury  on  the  Second  Brigade. 

Notwithstanding  the  earnest  warning  of  the  corps  officer  of 
the  day,  the  Union  army  was  lulled  into  a  feeling  of  security  by 
other  reports;  and  the  world  knows  that  the  first  reconnois- 
sance  in  the  morning  was  made  by  the  enemy,  and  Crook's 
corps,  the  first  attacked,  was  not  standing  at  arms,  or  out  in 
the  morning  until  driven  out  at  the  point  of  the  enemy's  bayo 
net  ;  and  many  a  poor  fellow  awoke  only  to  meet  the  blinding 
flash  and  cruel  bullet  from  the  musket  of  the  charging  foe. 
*  When  Thomas  left  Wright's  headquarters  he  went  to  the 
front  for  the  night,  and  did  not  dismount  again  until  his  horse 
was  shot  from  under  him.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  moon  shining  dimly,  Thomas,  accompanied  by  Lieut. 
Howe,  rode  out  to  the  picket  line.  His  suspicions  were  not 
allayed,  but  with  no  fear  that  our  army  would  be  surprised 
after  his  repeated  warnings,  he  rode  up  across  the  pike,  ordered 
the  fires  put  out,  and  every  available  man  on  picket.  At 
this  time  he  heard  the  light  crackle  of  Rosser's  signal 
shots  on  our  right,  and  Gordon's  answer  on  our  left,  soon  fol 
lowed  by  crashes  of  musketry  and  wild  yells  of  Kershaw's 
charging  brigades. 

"  They  '11  be  fearfully  punished  before  they  get  into  Crook's 
works,"  said  Lieut.  Howe,  as  both  wheeled  for  the  pike, 
only  to  ride  into  a  company  of  rebel  cavalry,  probably 
belonging  to  Wharton  ;  and  at  the  same  moment  a  volley  of 
musketry  rang  out  above  them  from  Wharton 's  infantry.  At 
this  moment  one  of  the  nearest  horsemen  shouted  to  Thomas, 
"  Surrender,  you  d — d  Yankee  !"  "  No,  sir  !"  said  Thomas  ;  "it 
is  too  early  in  the  morning ;  besides,  your  language  is  not  re- 


228  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

spectful."  And  striking  spurs  into  his  horse  he  dashed  away 
toward  the  creek.  A  wild,  savage  yell  broke  from  the  throats 
of  the  rebel  horsemen,  as  they  followed  at  a  tnad  gallop,  and  a 
shower  of  bullets  cut  the  air  about  Thomas's  head  as  they  raced 
toward  the  Union  lines.  In  the  darkness  and  gloom,  down  the 
steep  banks  of  the  creek,  Thomas  and  his  aid  marvellously 
escaped,  and,  lying  flat  on  his  horse,  he  climbed  the  steep  bank 
opposite.  He  was  soon  in  the  presence  of  Gens.  Emory 
and  McMillan,  and  just  at  daybreak  received  the  order  to  take 
his  brigade  across  the  pike,  and  check  the  advance  of  the 
enemy. 

There  's  a  strange  love  for  the  old  flag  burning  in  our  hearts. 
It  is  inconceivable,  indescribable,  absolutely  unknown  to  one 
never  in  battle  or  active  service  —  a  "strange  something,  born 
of  war  ";  perhaps  born  on  the  long,  weary  march,  when  hunger 
stares  in  the  face  and  thirsty  lips  cry  for  water.  It  is  strength 
ened  on  the  lonely  picket  line,  as  the  soldier  walks  his  beat  at 
midnight,  or  crouches  in  the  gloom  as  he  hears  the  cry  of  pain 
from  his  next  comrade,  who  perhaps  falls  with  the  bright  flash 
and  the  rebel  bullet  from  a  concealed  foe.  It  is  welded  as  a 
band  of  hot  iron  in  the  fire  and  wild  tumult  of  battle,  and  sealed 
by  the  blood  of  hero  martyrs,  as  they  pour  out  their  lives  amid 
horrible  carnage,  that  liberty  may  live. 

And  lastly,  it  is  made  perfect  by  long  suffering,  either  of  hun 
ger,  thirst,  weariness  of  body,  the  ugly  wounds  and  the  agony 
that  follows  on  the  battlefield  or  in  the  hospital,  or  the  horrid 
prison  pens  with  their 'exposure  and  starvation.  I  repeat  it, 
love  for  the  old  flag  is  — 

"That  strange  something,  born  of  war;  " 

and  as  we  meet,  and  the  flag  is  brought  again  into  our  midst, 
and  we  live  over  and  over  again  the  battles  of  the  war,  with 
memories  that  in  times  past  would  crowd  and  distinguish  centu 
ries, —  but  in  our  lives  compressed  within  the  compass  of  a 
single  day, —  do  we  not  find  the  long  roll  of  wounded  and  dead 
cut  as  with  a  knife  in  our  quivering  hearts  ?  You  may  call  it 
only  sentiment,  but  it  is  true  to  life. 


A    SAD    INVENTORY.  229 

The  war  and  all  its  precious  memories  —  soul-lifting  or  sad  — 
seems  now  like  some  strange  dream.  The  mighty  host  of 
armed  men,  whose  tramp  caused  the  nations  to  tremble,  has 
gone  from  our  sight.  Their  wild  battle  cry  will  be  heard  no 
more  forever  ;  their  battle  flag  will  come  forth  no  more  to  war. 
Our  flag  is  furled, —  a  precious  relic  for  future  generations,  and 
a  proud  fact  to  us  that  only  men  brave,  daring,  heroic,  and, 
better  still,  loyal  to  the  core,  ever  bore  aloft  the  colors  and  flag 
of  that  grand  old  regiment,  the  Eighth  Vermont  Volunteers. 

INCIDENTS    OF    THE    FIGHT. 

The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  at  Cedar  Creek  was  greater 
than  the  regiment  had  suffered  in  any  one  previous  engagement. 
Those  killed  were :  Lieut.  Aaron  K.  Cooper  and  Lucius 
Estes,  Company  A ;  Corp.  George  F.  Blanchard,  James  S. 
Bigelow,  Wm.  J.  Fadden,  Company  B  ;  John  H.  Day,  Company 
D  ;  George  E.  Austin,  Company  G  ;  Sergt.  Jonathan  V.  Allen 
and  George  E.  Ormsby,  Company  H  ;  Sergt.  Lewis  H.  Lamb, 
Alonzo  Mills,  Charles  F.  Phillips,  Company  I ;  Corp.  John 
Petrie,  Corp.  Lyman  F.  Perham,  Paschal  P.  Shores,  Franklin 
Russell,  Company  K. 

Among  the  wounded  were  :  Maj.  John  B.  Mead,  Capt.  A.  B. 
Franklin,  Capt.  Edward  Hall  (died  from  wounds),  Capt.  Wm.  H. 
Smith,  Capt.  George  O.  Ford,  Capt.  S.  E.  Howard,  Adj.  S. 
W.  Shattuck,  Lieut.  Andrew  J.  Sargent,  Lieut  James  Welch, 
Lieut.  Martin  L.  Bruce,  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Spencer,  Lieut.  F. 
R.  Carpenter,  Lieut.  Nathan  C.  Cheney  (died  from  wounds)  ; 
Lieut.  Lewis  Childs,  of  Gen.  McMillan's  staff,  was  injured  by 
the  falling  of  his  horse,  which  was  shot  from  under  him  ;  Lieut. 
Henry  H.  Newton,  of  Company  A,  had  his  horse  shot  while 
riding  on  detached  service,  and  his  leg  was  broken  by  the 
fall ;  Sergt.  Seth  C.  Hill,  Aliston  E.  Shepard,  Oliver  P.  Dun 
ham,  Company  A  ;  Sergt.  Henry  H.  Holt,  Corp.  Myron  P.  War 
ren  (died  from  wounds),  Silas  Baker,  Company  B ;  John  M. 
Waldron,  Charles  Collins,  John  V.  Goodell  (died  from  wounds)  ; 
William  Leith  (died  from  wounds),  Oscar  Page,  Company  C  ; 


230  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Joseph  S.  Rollins,  Wm.  C.  Bliss,  Asa  Thompson  (died  from 
wounds),  Joseph  Mansur,  Samuel  W.  Scott,  Jeremiah  D. 
Styles,  George  N.  M.  Bean,  Henry  C.  Richardson,  F.  G. 
Thomas  (died  from  wounds),  George  H.  Austin,  Company  D  ; 
Edwin  Phelps,  George  R.  Grant,  Julius  L.  Poor,  James  Robin 
son,  Company  E  ;  Abraham  Douglass,  George  G.  Smith,  Com 
pany  F ;  Fabien  Dupuis,  Antonius  Depuys,  Wm.  D.  Plumley, 
James  H.  Bement,  Company  G  ;  Sergt.  Henry  B.  Brown,  Wm.  H. 
Reed  (died  from  wounds),  Samuel  S.  Childs  (died  from  wounds), 
Albert  O.  Evans  (died  from  wounds),  Frankford  H.  Bates, 
Simeon  Canedy,  Obediah  N.  Russell,  George  W.  Skinne'r, 
George  A.  Williams,  Cyrus  M.  White,  George  A.  White, 
George  R.  Harrington,  Company  H  ;  Corp.  A.  S.  Worden, 
Corp.  Leonard  C.  Bemis,  Sidney  L.  May,  Elmer  Fitts, 
Warren  W.  Kerr,  Daniel  B.  Mills,  Company  I  ;  Sergt.  Solon 
L.  Simons,  Ransom  Coolbeth,  George  Page,  Albert  D.  Grant, 
Sewall  Simpson,  Ethan  P.  Shores,  John  D.  Lewis  (died  from 
wounds),  Company  K. 

Among  those  taken  prisoners  on  the  picket  line  at  Cedar 
Creek,  for  the  list  cannot  be  made  complete,  were  :  Lieut.  F.  R. 
Carpenter,  Company  F ;  Edward  Swords,  John  R.  Dawson, 
Company  B  ;  Rollin  E.  Larned,  Oscar  Maxham,  Edwin  Phelps, 
George  Tracy,  Company  E ;  Abraham  Douglass,  George  G. 
Smith,  John  Duling,  Thomas  H.  Henchey,  Company  F  ;  Corp. 
S.  N.  Coles,  B.  F.  Arnold,  Company  G  ;  Geo.  E.  Mudgett,  Zeb. 
Mitchell,  Oliver  P.  Dunham,  Stephen  C.  Albee,  Company  A. 

Sergt.  Bowman,  of  Company  E,  with  two  companions,  was 
captured  twice,  and  finally  escaped  to  the  Union  lines. 

Lieut.  Carpenter  was  taken  to  Richmond  and  confined  in 
Libby  prison,  where  he  suffered  a  long  time,  but  notified  his 
family  where  he  was  in  the  following  singular  manner:  Hav 
ing  subscribed  for  the  Richmond  Daily  Inquirer,  he  paid  six 
dollars  to  have  a  "  personal "  inserted  in  its  columns.  This 
notice  was  copied  into  a  New  York  paper,  which  happened  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  his  family  in  Vermont,  who  were  thus 
informed  of  his  whereabouts. 

Capt.  McFarland  relates  that  when  he  found  his  regiment 


OLD    PETE.  231 

likely  to  be  swept  back  after  taking  their  position  beyond  the 
pike,  daring  the  morning  fight,  he  sent  Geo.  E.  Mudgett,  of 
Company  A,  back  to  the  camp  with  orders  to  gather  up  and 
save  whatever  valuables  he  could.  Having  done  so,  instead  of 
staying  in  the  rear,  as  he  might  very  properly  have  done, 
Mudgett  rejoined  his  company,  when  he  and  three  companions 
were  surrounded  and  captured  by  the  enemy.  He  was  taken  to 
Andersonville,  where  he  suffered  terribly.  During  his  stay 
there  the  officers  in  charge  tried  to  induce  him  to  enlist  in  the 
Confederate  army,  and  finally  offered  him  fifty  dollars  in  their 
money  and  a  pound  of  meat  if  he  would  do  so.  This  to  a 
starving  man  was  a  tempting  bribe,  but  Mudgett  was  "  true 
blue  "  to  the  last,  and  emphatically  refused  the  offer. 

After  the  brigade  under  Col.  Thomas  had  been  driven  back, 
and  while  they  were  almost  cut  off  and  nearly  surrounded  by 
the  enemy,  Robert  Sturgeon,  of  Company  C,  was  set  upon  by 
a  Confederate  private,  who  ordered  him  to  halt,  to  which  he  paid 
no  attention.  The  Johnny  pursued  and  emphasized  his  order 
by  a  thrust  with  his  bayonet,  which  pierced  Sturgeon's  cloth 
ing,  going  between  his  shirt  and  skin,  and  coming  out  through 
the  clothing  in  front  under  his  arm.  Thus  admonished  by  the 
cold  steel,  Sturgeon,  who  had  lost  his  bayonet  and  whose  gun 
was  unloaded,  halted  ;  but  one  of  his  comrades  who  was  near 
at  hand,  and  had  observed  the  whole,  came  up  and  discharged 
his  gun  point  blank  at  the  head  of  the  rebel,  and  both  Union 
soldiers  escaped,  the  whole  transaction  having  occupied  only 
a  few  seconds  of  time. 

When  old  Pete,  the  horse  ridden  by  Col.  Thomas,  and  which 
he  valued  highly,  was  shot,  the  colonel  said  as  he  sprang  away 
from  him  :  "  It  better  be  you  than  I,  poor  fellow  ! "  and  the 
wounded  beast  was  left  behind  to  die.  But  he  recovered  suffi 
ciently  to  follow  the  troops  and  seek  out  his  master's  headquar 
ters  that  night,  where  the  colonel  caused  his  hurt  to  be 
dressed,  and  when  he  was  well,  sent  him  to  Vermont,  where  old 
Pete  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  was  treated  with  marked 
consideration  as  one  of  the  noted  equine  heroes  of  the  war. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Massachusetts  had  completed  their  term 


232  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

of  service  just  before  the  Cedar  Creek  fight  ;  but  on  hearing 
that  there  was  to  be  a  battle,  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  of  them 
who  were  awaiting  transportation  North,  deckled  to  remain  and 
take  part  in  the  engagement.  They  did  so,  and  Lieut.  Tilden 
was  killed  and  several  others  wounded.  This  magnanimity  on 
their  part  was  deeply  touching  to  the  Eighth  Vermont,  whose 
members  became  pleasantly  acquainted  with  them  at  Ship 
Island,  and  served  with  them  for  years. 

After  the  battle  Captains  Geo.  O.  Ford,  S.  E.  Howard,  and 
Wm.  H.  Smith  were  granted  furloughs  on  account  of  their 
severe  wounds,  and  on  their  way  home  stopped  at  Baltimore  to 
get  their  pay  and  procure  clothing  and  other  necessaries  for 
their  journey.  They  lost  all  their  changes  of  clothing  when 
the  camp  was  captured  in  the  morning  fight,  and  were  obliged  to 
start  northward  dressed  as  they  had  been  on  the  field,  in  the 
dilapidated  uniforms  in  which  they  had  campaigned  through 
the  summer.  To  say,  then,  that  they  were  ragged,  bloody,  and 
unkempt,  but  faintly  expresses  the  poverty  of  their  apparel. 
Each  officer  was  very  lame.  Ford  had  been  shot  through  both 
legs  and  could  scarcely  hobble ;  Howard  carried  his  arm  in  a 
sling  and  had  one  leg  nearly  disabled  ;  Smith  was  crippled  by 
a  ball  in  the  thigh. 

In  such  a  plight  the  trio  reached  the  city,  booked  at  the 
Eutaw  House,  and,  dinner  being  ready,  proceeded  at  once 
to  the  dining-room,  where  their  appearance  created  quite  a 
sensation  among  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  the  tables.  While 
waiting  for  their  orders  to  be  filled,  a  champagne  cork  popped 
near  by,  and  though  they  did  not  mistake  the  report  for  one  of 
Early's  signal  guns,  their  attention  was  drawn  to  the  move 
ments  of  a  waiter  who  began  to  fill  their  glasses.  Could  it  be 
another  Cedar  Creek  surprise  ?  or  had  there  been  a  mistake  ? 

"What  are  you  about?"  asked  one  of  the  officers.  "We 
ordered  no  wine." 

"  Massa  Gen.  Lew  Wallace's  compliments,  sah,"  said  the 
sable  waiter  with  unction. 

They  ascertained  later  that  the  general  was  at  one  of  the 
tables,  and,  observing  their  entrance,  had  guessed  they  came 


A    FRESH    COMPLIMENT.  233 

from  the  bloody  field  which  was  the  sole  topic  of  conversation. 
He  not  only  showed  them  this  courtesy,  but  afterwards  took 
them  under  his  special  charge,  assisted  them  in  getting  their 
pay,  and  exerted  himself  in  every  way  to  make  their  stay  in  the 
city  pleasant. 

Maj.  Mead,  after  having  his  wounds  dressed,  mounted  his 
horse  and  followed  up  his  regiment  unattended,  overtook  them 
at  Fisher's  Hill  that  night,  and  resumed  his  duties. 

It  would  seem  almost  needless  to  multiply  testimony  to  the 
bravery  of  the  Second  Brigade,  exhibited  in  facing  singly  and 
unsupported  the  furious  onslaught  of  Early's  most  powerful  army 
corps  ;  but  just  at  this  moment  there  appears  in  the  fresh  pages 
of  Hon.  G.  G.  Benedict's  "Vermont  in  the  Civil  War"  this 
reference  to  the  deed  : 

"  Among  the  troops  brought  forward  for  this  purpose  [to  face  Kershaw 
and  Gordon]  was  a  brigade  of  brave  Connecticut,  Maine,  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  and  Vermont  troops,  under  command  of  Col.  Stephen  Thomas 
of  the  Eighth  Vermont.  Thomas  had  been  among  the  first  to  get  his  bri 
gade  into  line,  and  he  was  at  once  ordered  forward  to  the  left,  across  the 
pike,  to  stem  the  rout.  He  moved  promptly  forward  to  the  west  of  a  ravine 
and  copse  of  woods,  a  crowd  of  fugitives  pouring  through  his  lints  as  he 
took  position.  Gen.  Wright  made  an  earnest  effort  to  rally  the  men  of  the 
Eighth  Corps  on  the  turnpike  under  this  cover;  but  it  could  not  be  done, 
and  Thomas  was  thus  without  support  in  his  desperate  task  of  checking 
Gordon's  victorious  assault.  He  made  several  successive  stands,  holding 
the  crest  till  his  brigade  was  flanked  on  the  right  and  left  by  overwhelming 
numbers,  then  falling  back  to  the  pike,  where  the  same  operation  was 
repeated,  and  finally  rejoining  the  division,  with  his  brigade  diminished  by 
a  third, —  the  heaviest  loss  suffered  by  any  brigade  during  the  day." 

Instances  of  men  re-entering  the  service  after  being  honorably 
discharged  are  not  so  frequent  but  that  one  may  be  singled 
out  for  special  mention.  Lieut.  James  Welch,  of  Company  G, 
entered  the  service  as  a  private,  and  rose  to  be  sergeant,  then 
second  lieutenant,  then  first  lieutenant  of  his  company.  At  the 
morning  battle  at  Cedar  Creek,  he  commanded  Company  G  as 
skirmishers,  and  his  line  first  met  the  Confederates  as  they 
came  rushing  through  the  woods.  In  this  engagement  he  was 


234  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

severely  wounded,  and  as  the  forces,  fell  back,  barely  escaped 
being  captured  by  the  enemy.  On  account  of  consequent  disa 
bility  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  Uie  regiment.  But 
as  soon  as  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  sit  on  a  horse,  he  wished 
to  return  to  the  field,  and  the  governor  of  Vermont  appointed 
him  quartermaster  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  March  27th,  1865  ; 
and  in  that  capacity  he  did  good  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war. 

Capt.  S.  E.  Howard  was  a  mere  boy  when  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  H.  He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  then  to  first  lieutenant.  During  the  campaign  up 
the  Teche  to  Alexandria,  and  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  he  was 
acting  quartermaster  of  the  regiment.  He  was  then  promoted 
to  the  captaincy  of  Company  C,  which  he  commanded  in  the 
battles  of  Opequon  and  Fisher's  Hill.  In  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Creek  he  was  disabled  by  severe  wounds,  and  on  that  account 
received  an  honorable  discharge  in  the  following  December. 
As  a  soldier  and  officer,  Capt.  Howard  was  made  of  the  best 
stuff,  and  earned  each  honor  he  received  by  duties  well  per 
formed. 

Captain  Edward  Hall,  of  Company  E,  who  died  a  few  days 
after  the  battle  from  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek,  was  one 
of  the  oldest  officers  in  the  regiment.  He  served  through  the 
Louisiana  campaign,  and  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran.  In  one  of 
the  first  encounters  at  an  outpost  of  his  command,  that  of 
Bayou  des  Allemands,  he  was  taken  prisoner  with  his  entire 
detachment,  being  overcome  by  superior  numbers.  His  conspic 
uous  services  at  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  and  in  the  Virginia 
campaigns,  won  for  him  an  honorable  name  among  his  associate 
and  superior  officers. 

Lieut.  Aaron  K.  Cooper,  who  fell  in  the  terrible  fight  made 
by  his  regiment  on  the  iQth  instant,  enlisted  in  Company  A  as 
a  private,  became  a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  then  second 
lieutenant  of  his  company.  He  also  joined  the  veteran  regi- 


FAITHFUL    OFFICERS.  235 

ment  after  the  term  of  his  first  enlistment  had  expired.  He 
was  greatly  beloved  by  his  men  and  brother  officers  ;  and  his 
body  was  recovered  after  the  battle,  and  buried  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Winchester. 

Lieut.  Nathan  C.  Cheney,  of  Company  K,  whose  wounds 
received  at  Cedar  Creek  soon  proved  fatal,  rose  from  the  ranks 
by  faithful  and  efficient  service,  and  was  a  brave  and  capable 
officer. 


XL 


NEWTOWN. 

AFTER  their  defeat  at  Cedar  Creek,  the  southern  army  con 
tinued  to  menace  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  as  the  sea  lashes  the 
shore  after  the  fury  of  a  storm  is  spent.  But  the  tide  of  Con 
federate  success  had  turned,  never  again  to  touch  the  high- 
water  mark.  During  the  night  that  followed  the  scenes  related 
in  the  last  chapter,  Early  halted  his  flying  troops  behind  the 
entrenchments  on  Fisher's  Hill ;  but  before  the  dawn  of 
another  day  he  withdrew  up  the  valley  to  New  Market,  where 
he  remained  on  the  defensive  for  three  weeks. 

On  the  Qth  of  November,  Gen.  Sheridan  returned  toward 
Kernstown,  where  he  could  find  better  quarters  and  a  shorter 
line  of  supplies.  Being  in  doubt  whether  his  antagonist  would 
attempt  another  aggressive  movement,  for  the  Confederate 
strength  had  been  augmented  since  their  last  engagement, 
he  disposed  his  forces  so  as  to  be  prepared  for  attack  at  any 
moment,  and  held  his  line. 

On  the  day  after  the  Union  army  withdrew  to  the  north, 
Early  followed  with  his  entire  force  as  far  as  Middletown,  and 
a  sharp  cavalry  encounter  ensued  at  Newtown,  where  the  front 
of  the  Union  line  rested.  After  that  there  was  frequent  skir 
mishing  with  mounted  troops,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
many  Confederate  guns  and  prisoners.  But  on  the  I4th  instant, 
the  enemy  again  moved  back  to  New  Market,  and  before  the 
end  of  the  month  a  large  portion  of  Early's  troops  had  been 
transferred  to  other  commands,  so  that  the  presence  of  the 


A     CAVALRY   DASH.  237 

entire  Union  army  in  the  valley  was  no  longer  required. 
Accordingly,  the  Sixth  and  Eighth  Corps  were  ordered  away  in 
December,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year  1864,  Sheridan  had  left 
only  the  Nineteenth  Corps  to  go  into  winter  quarters. 

When  Early's  cavalry  charged  upon  the  Union  lines  on 
the  1 2th,  they  found  the  Eighth  Vermont  on  picket  near 
the  turnpike ;  and  before  they  came  near  enough  to  use  their 
weapons,  the  reserve  was  ordered  up  and  a  formidable  body  of 
infantry  was  ready  to  receive  them.  In  front  of  the  picket 
line  was  an  apple  orchard,  beyond  which  the  ground  descended 
abruptly  into  a  deep  ravine.  Into  this  the  skirmishers  deployed 
by  the  troopers  soon  disappeared,  and  a  detachment  from  the 
regiment  was  sent  forward  to  watch  their  movements.  But 
they  had  scarcely  reached  the  brink  of  the  gorge  when  they 
were  met  by  the  mounted  Johnnies,  and  came  back  on  the  run 
under  a  scattering  fire  from  the  enemy,  which  was  returned 
with  much  spirit  by  the  infantry.  A  brisk  engagement  might 
have  ensued,  had  not  the  Union  vedettes  been  between  the  pickets 
and  the  cavalry,  thus  preventing  them  from  being  fired  upon  ; 
therefore  an  order  was  given  to  cease  firing  instantly,  lest  they 
as  well  as  the  saucy  skirmishers  should  be  endangered.  Then 
the  enemy  tried  to  capture  the  vedettes,  but  failing  to  do  so, 
and  finding  the  situation  uncomfortable,  they  dashed  into  the 
ravine  again,  and  the  entire  brigade  of  Confederate  horse 
showed  heel  and  rapidly  galloped  away. 

While  the  brigade  remained  at  Newtown,  supposing  they 
were  to  pass  the  winter  there,  Gen.  Sherman  was  prosecuting 
his  famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  about  ten  o'clock  one  night 
Col.  Thomas  received  information  that  he  had  reached  the 
suburbs  of  Savannah.  Knowing  that  his  men  were  much 
interested  in  the  progress  of  that  unique  campaign,  the 
colonel  did  not  communicate  the  news  to  any  one,  but  issued 
an  order  for  his  command  to  be  in  line  at  a  certain  point  at 
seven  o'clock  next  morning,  which  in  those  short  days  \vas 
a  very  early  hour.  He  then  told  his  acting  adjutant  general, 
Capt.  Shattuck,  to  meet  them  and  read  them  a  notice  of 
Sherman's  success.  It  was  a  cold,  windy  morning,  and  "as  his 


238  THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 

voice  was  not  very  heavy,"  said  Col.  Thomas,  "I  knew  that 
but  a  small  part  of  the  brigade  really  understood  what  the 
adjutant  was  saying.  When  he  got  through  I  thought  I  would 
repeat  the  notice,  and  I  was  quite  sure  they  heard  it  all  along 
the  line.  I  finished  by  shouting  at  the  top  of  my  voice  : 
'  Satan's  kingdom  's  coming  down,  glory  hallelujah  ! '  Then 
turning  to  Shattuck,  I  added :  '  I  thought  they  did  n't  quite 
understand  you,  but  I  believe  they  heard  me.'  '  Yes,'  said  he, 
'  anybody  could  have  heard  you  two  miles  away.'  " 

During  the  latter  part  of  November  and  the  early  part  of 
December  quite  a  number  of  promotions  were  made  in  the 
regiment.  Under  date  of  November  24th,  Maj.  J.  B.  Mead 
was  made  lieutenant  colonel  ;  Capt.  A.  B.  Franklin,  Company 
H,  major;  First  Lieut.  Henry  Carpenter,  Company  F,  adju 
tant;  First  Lieut.  L.  M.  Hutchinson,  captain  Company  E; 
Adj.  S.  W.  Shattuck,  captain  Company  H  ;  M.  L.  Hodgkins, 
first  lieutenant  Company  F  ;  James  Welch,  Company  G,  first 
lieutenant;  Sec.  Lieut.  Joseph  N.  Dunton,  Company  H,  first 
lieutenant ;  Sec.  Lieut.  Ezra  H.  Brown,  Company  A,  first 
lieutenant  ;  Henry  H.  Newton,  Company  A,  second  lieutenant. 

Capt.  S.  E.  Howard,  Company  C,  was  honorably  discharged 
Dec.  Qth  ;•  and  Sec.  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Robie,  Company  D,  died 
of  disease,  Dec.  6th. 


SUMMIT    POINT. 

On  the  2Oth  day  of  December,  orders  were  received  at 
Newtown  to  break  camp,  and  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  Eighth  Vermont,  with  other  troops  in  the  command,  began 
to  move  northward,  and  passing  through  Winchester  that  even 
ing,  the  march  was  continued  until  midnight,  when  a  halt  was 
made.  The  men  dropped  down  on  the  frozen  ground,  rolled 
themselves  in  their  blankets,  and  went  to  sleep  under  a  starless 
sky,  with  plenty  of  fresh  air  circulating  through  their  spacious 
bed  chambers.  But  Mother  Nature,  probably  fearful  that  her 
tired  boys  would  not  be  warm  enough,  stepped  in  and  tucked 


SKIRMISHING.  239 

them  all  up  under  one  of  her  immaculate  white  winter  cover 
lets  of  downy  crystals  ;  and  when  they  were  aroused  at  day 
break,  her  thoughtfulness  caused  them  no  little  surprise,  as 
they  brushed  some  of  the  loose  snowy  feathers  from  their  faces, 
and  shivered  a  little  to  find  the  new  day  showing  such  a  north 
ern  New  England  aspect. 

A  tramp  of  two  hours  through  the  snow  brought  the  troops 
to  Summit  Point,  where  the  regimental  camp  was  established 
for  the  winter.  Although  no  more  Opequon  bayonet  charges 
or  Cedar  Creek  surprises  awaited  the  veterans  from  old  Ver 
mont,  their  quarters  were  by  no  means  a  lodge  of  comfortable 
indolence.  The  adjacent  railroad  line  had  to  be  guarded,  in 
order  to  protect  its  transportation  business  ;  block  houses 
were  required  to  be  built  as  a  defence  against  guerilla  raids ; 
and  guard  and  picket  duty  was  very  exacting.  Small  forces  of 
the  enemy  hovered  about  the  camp  at  frequent  intervals,  with 
which  the  skirmishers  would  have  a  brush  ;  and  occasionally  a 
Union  soldier  would  be  wounded. 

The  danger  of  attack  did  not  arise  from  the  close  proximity 
of  the  formidable  army  with  which  they  had  so  bravely  coped 
in  the  autumn  ;  but  the  wily  Mosby,  with  his  band  of  prowling 
guerillas,  menaced  them  with  the  utmost  persistence,  making 
their  life  not  unlike  that  of  white  settlers  in  colonial  times,  who 
were  constantly  in  danger  of  being  murdered  by  savages.  The 
block  houses  built  to  protect  the  veterans  from  surprises  were 
a  revival  of  the  old  stockades,  within  which  the  Puritan  secreted 
his  family  when  a  warwhoop  announced  the  approach  of  the 
cruel  red  men. 

Mosby's  method  of  attack  was  to  make  a  sudden  dash  upon 
a  train  or  a  detail  of  unprotected  soldiers,  fire  a  few  shots, 
gather  up  valuable  booty  and  capture  prisoners,  then  disappear 
as  suddenly.  In  this  kind  of  worrying  his  men  were  expert  and 
bold,  and  there  was  no  time,  day  or  night,  when  their  raids  might 
not  be  expected.  On  one  occasion  a  hundred  horsemen  swooped 
down  upon  a  squad  of  ten  or  a  dozen  men,  within  a  stone's  throw 
of  the  regimental  headquarters,  and  ran  them  off  at  the  side  of 
their  horses,  without  firing  a  shot  They  were  beyond  rifle 


240  THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT, 

range  before  the  camp  was  alarmed,  and  the  captured  Yankees, 
were  hurried  off  to  starve  in  Libby  prison. 

In  February  a  party  of  about  twenty  men  were  sent  to  the 
forest  about  half  a  rnile  away  to  chop  wood  for  the  camp.  They 
stacked  their  arms,  took  their  axes,  and  went  to  work  ;  but 
without  a  moment's  warning,  a  band  of  guerillas  dashed  in- 
between  them  and  their  muskets,  drew  revolvers  upon  them, 
and  marched  them  off  as  prisoners.  For  two  days  and  a  night 
they  tramped  through  the  country  without  stopping ;  then  a 
short  halt  was  made,  and  they  were  given  a  scanty  ration  of 
"  corn  dodgers  "  for  breakfast.  Then  resuming  the  march  they 
soon  arrived  at  Libby  prison,  where  the  luckless  wood  choppers 
passed  several  weeks  before  they  were  exchanged.  In  that 
place  of  torment,  the  horrors  of  which  have  probably  never 
been  exaggerated,  those  poor  fellows  were  subjected  to  all 
the  atrocious  barbarities  that  inhumanity  could  suggest.  By 
long  days  of  fasting  they  were  made  willing  to  appease  their 
hunger  on  the  only  articles  provided  for  them  which  bore  the 
least  semblance  to  food, —  a  little  decaying  meat  and  sour, 
mouldy  bread, —  and  to  slake  their  consuming  thirst  with  water 
too  filthy  to  wash  in. 

Only  part  of  these  prisoners  survived  the  terrible  ordeal,  and 
the  misery  of  those  who  lived  was  heightened  by  the  spectacle 
of  the  bodies  of  their  deceased  comrades  lying  unbnried  for 
days,  or  thrown  outside  to  be  torn  and  devoured  by  half-starved 
dogs. 

In  this  connection  might  be  related  the  sad  experience  of 
six  prisoners  captured  in  the  morning  at  Cedar  Creek,  who 
were  sent  to  Andersonville.  Their  captors  had  plundered 
them  of  nearly  all  their  clothing,  so  that  they  were  exposed  to 
an  inclement  atmosphere  with  no  adequate  protection,  and 
during  the  chilly  nights  they  nearly  perished  with  cold.  To 
better  their  miserable  plight  as  far  as  possible,  the  poor  fellows 
dug  a  hole  in  the  ground,  into  which  they  crept  to  sleep  at 
night,  in  lieu  of  a  bed.  They  had  only  two  blankets,  but  they 
huddled  together  as  closely  as  possible,  and  once  in  an  hour 
or  two  the  outside  man,  who  was  most  exposed,  exchanged 


THOMAS  MUSTER-ED  OUT.  241 

places  with  one  in  the  middle,  and  in  that  way  contrived  to 
drown  his  sufferings  in  sleep.  One  unusually  cold  night 
Thomas  Henchey  occupied  the  outside  place  during  the  first 
hour  after  midnight,  but  when  the  others  tried  to  rouse  him  to 
get  up  and  take  the  warmer  berth,  he  made  no  response ;  he 
was  dead.  A  horror  fell  on  his  five  companions,  nor  did  they 
dare  go  to  sleep  again  that  night,  lest  they  too  share  the  fate  of  * 
poor  Tom. 

The  following  names  of  prisoners  taken  on  the  2Oth  instant 
are  all  that  have  been  obtained,  although  there  were  probably 
about  twenty  others  captured :  Orville  R.  Brooks,  Company  B  ; 
Geo.  H.  Dow  and  Chas.  H.  Emerson,  Company  D  ;  Mason  P. 
Burke,  Company  E. 

On  the  2ist  of  February,  two  members  of  Company  F, 
Jonathan  L.  Squires  and  John  B.  Thomas,  were  taken  prisoners 
while  guarding  a  wagon  train. 

But  in  spite  of  frequent  skirmishes  along  the  line  of  the 
Winchester  and  Harper's  Ferry  Railroad,  an  expedition  up 
the  Valley  to  Newtown  under  Maj.  Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock,  and 
continuous  exposure  to  storms  and -cold,  the  winter  was  a  rather 
uneventful  one  for  old  campaigners,  and  the  spring  found  them 
in  good  condition. 

During  the  first  months  of  the  year,  that  memorable  year 
which  closed  the  war,  several  important  promotions  were  made. 
On  the  2  ist  of  January,  Col.  Thomas  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  his  time  of  original  muster  having  expired.  He  returned 
to  Vermont  and  secured  recruits  enough  for  the  regiment  to 
enable  Lieut  Col.  John  B.  Mead  to  be  promoted  to  the  colonelcy 
on  the  4th  of  March.  Maj.  A.  B.  Franklin  was  made  lieuten 
ant  colonel  on  the  same  day,  and  Capt.  H.  M.  Pollard  was 
made  major  April  6th. 

A  few  days  before  his  three  years  of  service  expired,  Col. 
Thomas  addressed  to  the  assistant  adjutant  general  a  request 
to  be  mustered  out  and  receive  transportation  to  Vermont. 
As  this  document  passed  through  the  regular  channels,  the  fol 
lowing  indorsements  of  officers  who  examined  it  were  made 
upon  it : 
16 


242  THE  EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Respectfully  forwarded  with  great  regret,  as  Col.  Thomas  is  a  most 
valuable  officer  to  the  service,  and  his  place  cannot  be  easily  filled. 

J.  W.  MCMILLAN,  B.  G.  C. 

The  term  of  service  of  this  officer  will  expire  Jan.  21,  1865,  according  to 
his  statement.  He  has  served  three  years  in  one  grade,  under  his  original 
muster,  and  therefore  can  not  continue  in  service  except  he  be  recommis- 
sioned  and  remustered.  He  can  not  remuster  on  his  present  commission, 
as  his  regiment  has  not  the  proper  veteran  organization.  He  should  be 
mustered  out  in  the  field  Jan.  21,  1865,  on  account  of  expiration  of  term  of 
service. 

JAMES  F.  FITTS, 

Captain  and  C.  M.  i9th  A.  C. 

.     .     .     The  general  commanding  regrets  exceedingly  to  lose  the  services 
of  Col.  Thomas,  whom  he  has  twice  recommended  to  be  brevetted  for  gal 
lantry  and  meritorious  services;  and  he  yet  entertains  the  hope  that  Col. 
Thomas  will  receive  the  promotion  that  he  merits,  and  return  to  the  corps. 
By  order  of 

BREV.  MAJ.  GEX.  EMORY, 

DUNCAN  S.  WALKER,  A.  A.  G. 

The  following  promotions  in  the  regiment  were  made  early 
in  the  year  1865:  Feb.  23d,  Sec.  Lieut.  Geo.  G.  Hutchins, 
Company  E,  first  lieutenant ;  Sergt.  Francis  E.  Warren,  Com 
pany  I,  first  lieutenant,  and  April  i8th  to  captain  ;  Sergt. 
Newell  H.  Hibbard,  Company  E,  second  lieutenant ;  Sergt. 
George  W.  Hill,  Company  K,  second  lieutenant  ;  March 
3d,  First  Lieut.  Joseph  N.  Dunton,  Company  H,  captain  of 
Company  C  ;  Hospital  Steward  Wm.  H.  Haskins,  captain 
Company  D,  vice  Capt.  A.  E.  Getchell,  whose  term  had 
expired ;  Lieut.  James  'W.  Smith,  Company  K,  captain  ;  Lieut. 
Waitstill  R^  Pettie,  Company  H,  first  lieutenant  ;  Sergt.  Mar 
tin  L.  Bruce,  Company  G,  first  lieutenant ;  Sergt.  Horace  P. 
Emerson,  Company  D,  second  lieutenant  ;  Sergt.  Hymenius 
A.  Davis,  Company  H,  second  lieutenant  ;  Abner  W.  Flint, 
Company  G,  mustered  as  second  lieutenant.  April  6th,  Sergt. 
Curtis  W.  Lynn,  Company  B,  second  lieutenant.  April  i8th, 
Sergt.  Henry  W.  Downs,  Company  I,  second  lieutenant. 

Rev.  Thomas  Bayne,  of  Irasburg,  Vt.,  was  commissioned  chap 
lain,  Feb.  23d. 


LINCOLN'S   ASSASSINATION.  24$ 

When  President  Lincoln  was  shot,  on  the  evening  of  April 
I4th,  a  line  of  infantry  was  posted  around  the  city  of  Wash 
ington  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  assassin,  and  the  Eighth 
Vermont  were  hurried  thither  and  stationed  near  Seventh 
street,  the  men  being  placed  about  five  feet  apart.  They 
remained  there  throughout  that  exciting  night,  and  returned  to 
camp  when  it  was  found  that  Booth  had  escaped  beyond  the 
city  limits,  and  had  been  captured. 

Seven  days  later,  the  regiment  bade  adieu  to  their  camp  at 
Summit  Point,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Stevens  in  the  northern 
suburbs  of  Washington,  where  they  did  picket  duty.  Later 
they  formed  part  of  the  reserve  stationed  near  the  city  arsenal, 
and  then  were  in  camp  at  Monson  Hill,  until  they  were  trans 
ferred  to  the  Sixth  Corps.  On  reaching  Washington  the  regi 
ment  was  received  by  Gov.  J.  Gregory  Smith,  who  was  waiting 
for  them  and  reviewed  the  lines. 

Soon  the  first  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  which 
included  the  Eighth  Vermont,  was  ordered  to  Savannah.  Their 
number  had  just  been  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  about  four 
hundred  fresh  recruits  from  Vermont,  who  had  enlisted  through 
the  influence  of  Gen.  Thomas,  in  order  that  the  regiment  might 
contain  men  enough  to  ensure  the  commission  of  Officer 
Mead  to  the  colonelcy.  Considering  the  condition  of  the  men 
it  seemed  to  Gov.  Smith,  Col.  Holbrook,  the  state  commissioner, 
and  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  unwise  at  that  season  to  send 
them  to  a  sickly  southern  climate,  when  there  did  not  appear  to 
be  any  pressing  need  of  their  services  there.  Accordingly, 
their  case  was  laid  before  the  secretary  of  war,  who  was  asked 
to  transfer  them  to  the  Sixth  Corps,  which  was  to  remain  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington.  But  no  answer  came  from  Mr.  Stan- 
ton,  and  on  the  first  day  of  June  the  men  were  ordered  on  board 
a  steamer  at  Alexandria,  which  was  to  sail  early  the  next 
morning.  The  poor  fellows  felt  heart-sick  as  they  crept  into 
their  berths  late  that  night,  while  Col.  Mead  with  several  of 
his  staff  remained  on  deck  talking  about  the  matter  until  after 
midnight.  They  had  abandoned  all  hope  of  getting  a  counter 
manding  order  in  season,  when  Col.  Holbrook  came  aboard 


244  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

bearing  an  official  paper  which  read  :  "  Col.  Mead  will  take  his 
regiment  and  report  as  soon  as  convenient  to  Gen.  Wright,  of 
the  Sixth  Corps."  « 

Rejoiced  at  their  changed  destination,  the  Vermont  boys 
went  ashore  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  encamped  in  a 
clover  field  near  by,  where  they  passed  one  of  the  pleasantest 
weeks  of  the  entire  campaign.  They  drew  a  supply  of  new 
clothing  and  other  things  necessary  to  their  comfort  and  re 
spectable  appearance,  and  engaged  in  careful  daily  drills,  pre 
paratory  to  the  reviews  in  which  they  expected  soon  to  take 
part.  At  the  end  of  the  week  they  reported  to  Gen.  Wright 
as  ordered. 

The  grand  review  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  in  Washington  was 
ordered  for  the  8th  instant,  and  Col.  Mead's  command  made  so 
fine  a  display  on  parade,  that  the  National  Intelligencer,  in  its 
report  of  the  affair,  paid  them  the  following  compliment :  "  Next 
came  the  Eighth  Vermont,  a  veteran  regiment  four  years  in 
service,  commanded  by  Col.  John  B.  Mead.  This  regiment  was 
especially  noticed  for  its  excellent  marching,  and  the  perfect 
alignment  of  its  bayonets  ;  and  every  soldier  bore  in  his  cap  a 
sprig  of  cedar,  the  emblem  of  his  state.  " 

On  this  and  other  similar  public  occasions  the  regimental 
band  was  brought  into  prominence,  and  was  often  compli 
mented  as  being  one  of  the  best  in  the  Nineteenth  Corps. 
The  leader  was  Auguste  Heanel,  a  native  German,  who 
enlisted  in  New  Orleans,  and  was  an  accomplished  musician. 
His  assistant  was  Anselm  Martin,  who  was  also  enlisted  in 
that  city.  When  a  serenade  was  desired  at  headquarters,  the 
Eighth  Vermont  band  was  always  in  demand. 

At  this  point,  the  story  may  properly  pause  to  pay  a  tribute 
to  Col.  John  B.  Mead,  who  entered  the  service  as  second  lieu 
tenant  of  Company  G.  In  early  life  he  labored  on  a  farm,  and 
enjoyed  such  educational  advantages  only  as  were  afforded  by 
the  common  schools  of  Vermont.  But  having  a  liking  for  study, 
he  pursued  the  higher  branches  after  leaving  school,  and  for 
several  years  was  employed  in  teaching.  He  had  a  command- 


COL.  JOHN    B.   MEAD. 


HOME    AGAIN.  245 

ing  presence  and  was  a  ready  speaker,  and  at  the  public  meet 
ings  held  to  encourage  enlistments,  he  gave  effective  addresses, 
and  exerted  a  strong  influence  in  raising  his  own  company. 

Col.  Mead  received  a  greater  number  of  promotions  than  any 
other  member  of  the  regiment,  being  commissioned  successively 
as  second  lieutenant,  first  lieutenant,  captain,  major,  and  lieu 
tenant  colonel.  Finally  Col.  Thomas  retired  from  the  regiment, 
and  he  was  made  colonel  in  his  stead,  March  4th,  1865,  holding 
the  position  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  and  at  Cedar 
Creek  he  led  the  regiment  in  the  famous  advance  across  the 
pike  in  the  morning,  but  was  wounded  and  obliged  to  retire 
from  the  field.  He  took  great  pride  in  the  good  appearance  of 
his  troops,  and  enforced  rigid  discipline,  believing  it  the  cardinal 
virtue  of  a  soldier  to  render  strict  obedience  to  military  law. 

MUSTERED    OUT. 

THERE  is  no  need  to  recall  to  the  minds  of  veterans  the  sig 
nal  victories  and  other  marked  events  that  combined  to  bring 
to  a  close,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  the  great  conflict  of  arms  be 
tween  the  North  and  the  South.  The  power  of  the  Confederacy 
permanently  crushed,  the  presence  of  the  great  Union  armies 
was  no  longer  needed  in  the  seceded  states,  and,  by  order  of  the 
commander  in  chief,  all  the  troops  that  could  be  brought 
together  for  the  purpose  were  to  parade  in  one  grand  review 
before  the  assembled  dignitaries  at  the  capital,  preparatory  to 
returning  home.  The  day  set  for  this  display  was  the  23d  of 
May,  and  the  Eighth  Vermont  participated  \vith  credit  to  them 
selves  and  their  officers  in  command. 

On  the  28th  day  of  June,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of 
service  with  veteran  honors,  and  ordered  to  Burlington,  Vt., 
where,  after  receiving  pay,  the  members  quietly  disbanded  and 
returned  to  their  homes  on  the  loth  of  July,  1865.  Who 
returned?  The  Eighth  Regiment,  we  say.  But  do  we  mean 
that  thousand  men  who  left  Camp  Holbrook  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1862,  for  the  front  ? 


246  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

"  Ah  me  !  not  all !  some  come  not  with  the  rest, 
Who  went  forth  brave  and  bright  as  any  here ! 

*  *  *  * 

In  these  brave  ranks  I  only  see  the  gaps, 
Thinking  of  clear  ones  whom  the  dumb  turf  wraps, 
Dark  to  the  triumph  which  they  died  to  gain." 

Ah,  sad  in  the  hour  of  victory  and  national  rejoicing  is  the 
dirge  for  those  who  wqnt  but  come  not !  Of  the  hundreds  who 
started  from  that  winter  camp  for  the  southern  battlefields, 
hardly  as  many  scores  came  back  to  answer  to  their  names  at 
roll-call.  After  the  fever  of  the  fight,  the  pain  of  fatal  wounds, 
the  wasting  course  of  disease,  or  the  slow  torture  of  the  enemy's 
prisons,  they  sleep  well,  let  us  hope,  in  the  land  they  died  to 
redeem.  The  brave  companies  returned  mere  fragments  and 
broken  lines,  bringing  precious  memories  of  the  comrades 
fallen  and  left  behind. 

Or  shall  we  rather  say  they  all  came  back  and  the  ranks 
were  full  when  the  regiment  disbanded?  Is  it  too  much  to 
affirm  that  those  who  had  fallen  on  the  field  filled  that  occasion 
with  a  presence  even  more  real  than  that  of  the  few  men  who 
returned  unhurt  ?  How  could  they  linger  behind  in  that  hour 
of  martial  triumph  ?  Forth  from  the  impalpable  air  they 
marched  with  quick,  glad  step,  in  shining  raiment  neither  blue 
nor  gray,  joy  in  their  faces,  and  songs  of  victory  upon  their 
lips.  Did  you  not  see  them,  O  toil-worn  comrade,  as  they  moved 
to  your  side,  aligned,  and  filled  the  wide  gaps  in  your  ranks  ? 
Did  not  their  presence  inspire  you  in  that  hour  of  rushing 
memories  ?  If  in  your  thought  that  morning  the  heroes  in 
your  ranks  were  still  alive,  then  could  you  go  home  rejoicing, 
and  singing  : 

"  Lift  the  heart  and  lift  the  head  ! 

Lofty  be  its  mood  and  grave ; 

Not  without  a  martial  ring, 

Not  without  a  prouder  tread, 

And  a  peal  of  exultation." 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  add  to  this  record  a  testimonial  to  the 
deeds  and  merit  of  several  officers  who  did  not  leave  the  ranks 
until  the  regiment  disbanded. 


MEN    OF   RECORD.  247 

The  Eighth  Vermont  had  no  braver  officer  than  Capt.  Moses 
McFarland,  of  Company  A,  who,  with  his  plucky  command, 
led  the  gallant  charge  of  the  rifle-pits  in  the  battle  of  the 
Cotton.  When  the  company  organized  he  was  elected  first 
lieutenant,  and  upon  the  promotion  of  Capt.  Grout  succeeded 
him.  He  was  an  officer  who  always  did  his  duty.  After  Maj. 
Mead  was  wounded  in  the  morning  fight  at  Cedar  Creek, 
McFarland  took  command  of  the  regiment,  and  for  his  services 
on  that  bloody  field  was  especially  complimented  by  the  brigade 
commander,  Col.  Thomas.  He  remained 'in  the  army  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  carried  into  private  life  a  worthy 
soldier's  record. 

Maj.  H.  M.  Pollard  went  South  as  a  war  correspondent, 
accompanied  Weitzel's  brigade  on  its  early  campaigns,  and  was 
well  known  in  the  regiment.  A  vacancy  occurring  in  Company 
I,  he  was  commissioned  as  first  lieutenant.  He  afterwards  was 
promoted  to  be  captain  and  major.  He  served  for  a  time  as 
provost  marshal  on  the  brigade  staff  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 
Major  Pollard  was  a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  whose  promo 
tion  was  well  deserved. 

Quartermaster  Edward  Dewey  entered  the  Eighth  Vermont 
January,  1864.  He  was  appointed  from  civil  life,  but  quickly 
adapted  himself  to  the  requirements  of  his  position.  Joining  the 
regiment  in  Louisiana  he  accompanied  it  to  Virginia,  and  par 
ticipated  in  the  battles  of  Opequon  and  Cedar  Creek.  On 
February  nth,  1865,  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain  and  assist 
ant  quartermaster  in  the  staff  department  of  United  States 
volunteers. 

Lieut.  Col.  Alvin  B.  Franklin  entered  the  service  as  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  H,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain,  then  major,  and  the  lieutenant  colonelcy.  He  was  a 
brave  and  capable  officer,  and  took  part  in  every  battle  in  which 
his  regiment  engaged.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  Raceland, 
and  again  at  Cedar  Creek ;  and  for  gallant  conduct  at  the  latter 


248  THE   EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

place    Col.    Thomas    recommended   that   he    be    made   brevet 
major.  •• 

Capt.  Wm.  H.  Smith,  of  Company  F,  entered  the  service  as 
a  private,  was  appointed  sergeant  of  Company  H,  afterwards 
orderly  sergeant,  second  lieutenant,  then  promoted  to  be  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  F,  and  later  captain.  He  ably  com 
manded  the  skirmish  line  at  Winchester,  and  was  severely 
wounded  at  Cedar  Creek. 

Surgeon  H.  H.  Gillett  entered  the  service  with  the  regiment 
and  continued  till  it  was  mustered  out.  Col.  Thomas,  who  had 
known  him  long  in  civil  life,  asked  him  to  accept  a  professional 
position  upon  his  staff.  The  governor  therefore  commisioned 
him  as  assistant  surgeon  December  loth,  1861.  He  reported 
promptly  at  Brattleboro,  and  his  skill  was  early  called  into 
requisition  to  attend  the  numerous  sick  in  that  winter  camp. 
His  first  duty  as  a  surgeon  was  performed  when  he  cared  for 
the  wounded  from  the  fight  at  Raceland,  where  he  was  ably 
assisted  by  Hospital  Steward  Samuel  H.  Currier.  In  June, 
1862,  upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Gale,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
surgeon  of  the  regiment.  He  was  with  the  Eighth  on  all  the 
campaigns  up  the  Teche,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  brigade  hos 
pital  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson.  He  became  a  veteran 
surgeon  with  his  regiment,  and  served  in  the  campaign  of  1864, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  At  different  times  he  served  on 
the  brigade  and  division  staff. 

Assistant  Surgeon  O.  E.  Ross  was  commissioned  September 
i  ;th,  1863.  He  brought  into  the  service  an  excellent  reputation 
as  a  physician,  and  quickly  won  the  confidence  and  regard  of 
the  regiment.  Full  of  a  genuine  humor,  he  dispensed  it  liberally 
to  all.  While  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  he  was  for  a  time 
medical  director  of  the  brigade.  He  remained  with  the  regi 
ment  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  June  28th, 
1865. 


•    W. 


THE    "PARTING    STONE."  249 


IN  RETROSPECT. 

THE  duty  of  a  historian  strictly  ends  where  the  thread  of  his 
narrative  breaks  off.  But  it  is  not  easy  to  drop  the  comrades 
of  a  four-years'  service  as  soon  as  the  ink  on  their  muster-out 
rolls  is  dry.  A  single  backward  look  may  be  pardoned  ere  the 
veterans  reach  the  "parting  stone"  that  forks  their  different 
roads  in  civil  life.  The  unthinking  world,  and  even  waiting 
families,  can  forgive  the  delay,  while  the  toil-worn  campaigners 
gather  around  their  beloved  officers,  and  through  tears  and 
smiles  survey  the  eventful  years  since  they  donned  the  soldier's 
garb  and  went  to  war. 

The  struggle  in  which  the  regiment  took  an  active  part 
marked  a  national  epoch  not  less  important  than  that  which 
secured  its  independence,  a  period  of  trial  and  development 
unprecedented  in  any  country  under  the  sun.  To  every  soldier 
who  entered  the  conflict  in  a  spirit  of  true  loyalty  it  was  a 
training  school  of  the  broadest  type.  While  bearing  arms  in 
vindication  of  the  terrible  authority  of  national  law,  what  vast 
themes  of  liberty  and  slavery,  love  and  hate,  intelligence  and 
ignorance,  must  have  occupied  his  thoughts.  How  grandly  the 
gigantic  problem  worked  itself  out,  under  the  guidance  of  a 
power  that  used  the  wisdom  of  statesmen  and  generals  as  they 
manoeuvred  the  troops  in  their  commands.  Little  as  the  sol 
dier  or  any  one  else  was  able  to  realize  at  the  time  what  a 
mighty  social  and  political  revolution  was  in  progress,  the 
retrospect  must  have  convinced  him  that  the  close  of  the  war 
was  the  dawn  of  a  new  life,  when  he  could  say  : 

"  I  awake  to  the  higher  aims 
Of  a  land  that  has  lost  for  a  little  her  lust  of  gold, 
And  love  of  a  peace  that  was  full  of  wrongs  and  shames, 
Horrible,  hateful,  monstrous,  not  to  be  told. 
***** 
Though  many  a  light  shall  darken,  and  many  shall  weep 
For  those  that  are  crushed  in  the  clash  of  jarring  claims, 
Yet  God's  just  wrath  shall  be  wreak'd  on  great  liar, 
And  many  a  darkness  into  the  light  shall  leap, 


250  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

And  shine  in  the  sudden  making  of  splendid  names  ; 

And  noble  thought  be  freer  under  the  sun, 

And  the  heart  of  a  people  beat  with  one  desire. 

****** 

Let  it  flame  or  fade,  and  the  war  roll  down  like  a  wind, 

We  have  proved  we  have  hearts  in  a  cause,  we  are  noble  still ; 

And  myself  have  awakened,  as  it  seems,  to  the  better  mind; 

It  is  better  to  fight  for  the  good,  then  to  rail  at  the  ill. 

I  have  felt  with  my  native  land,  I  am  one  with  my  kind, 

1  embrace  the  purpose  of  God,  and  the  doom  assign'd." 

Or,  full  of  deep  and  fervid  patriotism,  heated  and  welded  at 
the  forge  of  carnage,  he  might  adopt  the  noble  sentiment  of 
Lowell,  and  say  of  his  country  : 

"  What  were  our  lives  without  thee  ? 

What  all  our  lives  to  save  thee  ? 

We  reck  not  what  we  gave  thee, 

We  will  not  dare  to  doubt  thee ; 

But  ask  whatever  else,  and  we  will  dare." 

The  particular  school  of  military  experience  in  which  the 
members  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  learned  the  great  lesson  of 
loyalty  was  peculiar.  It  flourished  in  different  climes,  it  abode 
in  tents,  was  peripatetic  like  that  of  Aristotle,  rough  and 
exacting  in  discipline.  It  began  in  the  special  legislation  of  a 
state  ;  the  classes  were  formed  by  enlistment ;  it  was  a  school 
of  theories,  but  the  instruction  given  was  chiefly  in  practical 
experiments.  There  was  no  end  of  the  drill  under  commis 
sioned  tutors ;  but  the  grand  exhibitions  were  held  in  Louisiana 
and  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Were  not  May  I2th,  June  22d, 
and  September  4th,  1862;  January  I4th  and  I5th,  April  I2th 
and  1 3th,  May  2/th,  June  I4th,  and  July  Qth,  1863  ;  September 
1 9th  and  22d,  and  October  iQth,  1864,  public  days  long  to  be 
remembered?  And  what  of  those  great  lessons  learned  at  New 
Orleans,  Algiers,  and  in  the  Teche  country,  during  forty-four 
days  before  Port  Hudson,  and  the  fall  term  in  the  Valley? 
Could  men  serve  month  after  month  under  such  masters  as 
Butler,  Banks,  Grover,  Weitzel,  Emory,  Sheridan,  Dwight, 
Thomas,  and  leave  the  school  uneducated  ? 


REVIEW    OF    THE    SERVICE.  25 1 

Nor  could  it  have  escaped  the  notice  of  the  veterans  how 
nicely  their  study  and  drill  had  been  graded,  beginning  with 
the  simplest  steps  and  rising  to  grander  and  more  difficult 
achievements.  They  were  scarcely  fit  to  make  an  Opequon 
bayonet  charge  when  they  first  started  up  the  Opelousas  Rail 
road,  though  their  courage  was  equal  to  it ;  nor  would  they 
have  checked  Early's  great  army  long  enough  to  give  their 
comrades  "  one  golden  hour,"  the  day  after  their  entry  into 
New  Orleans.  Their  deeds  of  heroism  were  in  an  ascending 
scale. 

Another  noteworthy  fact  in  the  career  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont  was  the  length  of  its  term  of  service  in  the  field. 
The  veterans  enlisted  for  the  war.  Brig.  Gen.  van  Patten 
accented  this  merit  of  the  regiment  when  he  said:  "The 
history  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  begins  with  the  war  and 
terminates  at  its  conclusion.  Early  in  the  struggle  it  went 
to  the  field  and  remained  at  the  front  with  its  face  to  the 
foe  until  the  bloody  drama  was  over.  The  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the 
Atchafalaya,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Shenandoah,  witnessed  its 
struggles  and  its  triumphs.  It  went  home  with  a  dozen  battles 
on  its  banner.  It  was  reputed  one  of  the  best  regiments  in  the 
Ninteenth  Corps.  The  state  of  Vermont  and  the  whole  coun 
try  should  be  proud  of  its  history.  Its  officers  should  be  num 
bered  with  the  famous  and  renowned.  Its  whole  muster  roll 
should  be  written  indelibly  upon  marble  and  brass." 

The  regiment  had  for  contemplation  on  returning  to  the 
state  of  Vermont,  a  positive  record  of  deeds  and  endurance 
that  did  not  need  the  help  of  comparison  to  heighten  its  lustre. 
They  could  safely  rest  on  their  laurels  without  being  envious  of 
the  achievements  of  any.  other  troops.  Cowards  seek  to  mend 
their  own  shortcomings  by  contrast  with  some  that  are  worse. 
Gen.  Thomas  and  his  brave  command  could  afford  to  challenge 
the  verdict  of  the  world  on  their  accomplishment  of  the  work 
they  were  sent  into  the  field  to  do.  They  could  claim  the  right 
to  "life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,"  because  they 
had  done  something  to  defend  that  right  for  others,  and  earn  it 
for  themselves. 


XII. 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT    IN    CIVIL   LIFE. 

IT  was  the  glory  of  our  country  that,  when  its  vast  army  of 
volunteer  soldiers  was  disbanded,  in  1865,  they  quietly  returned 
to  private  life  and  assumed  the  duties  of  peaceful  citizenship. 
Had  the  same  thing  happened  in  one  of  the  older  civilizations 
of  Europe,  that  country  would  have  been  overrun  by  a  lawless 
element,  dangerous  to  society  and  difficult  to  control.  Broadly 
speaking,  the  more  fortunate  experience  of  the  United  States 
was  due  to  the  greater  measure  of  intelligence  among  its  sol 
diers.  Their  patriotism  was  thoughtful,  their  loyalty  reasonable, 
and  camp  life  did  not  debauch  them. 

Nations  and  commanders  well  understand  that  the  best  sol 
dier  is  not  the  ignorant,  hairbrained  man,  boastful  of  his  prow 
ess,  and  glorying  in  brute  force  and  petty  broils  ;  but  rather 
the  educated  man,  who  makes  a  real  sacrifice  to  enter  the  army, 
and,  knowing  its  peril,  braves  the  dangers  of  war  impelled  by  a 
sense  of  patriotic  duty.  ,The  most  effective  guns  have  a  thought 
behind  them.  He  serves  his  country  who  takes  up  arms  to 
save  her,  not  he  who  enlists  to  gratify  ambition  or  get  a  tempt 
ing  bounty. 

At  the  ballot  box  one  voter  counts  as  much  as  another,  but 
in  the  army  the  quality  of  the  man  tells.  It  was  proved  over 
and  over  again  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  that  the  best 
regiments  were  those  that  represented  the  most  brains  and 
moral  strength.  The  educated  man  may  not  excel  in  natural 
fearlessness  or  bravery  ;  but  he  feels  what  the  ignorant  man 


OUR    COLONEL.  253 

often  lacks — a  sense  of  moral  responsibility  which  holds  him 
to  his  duty  and  his  post,  even  when  he  knows  the  chances  are 
he  will  be  killed. 

The  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  was  largely  composed  of  in 
telligent,  thoughtful,  responsible  men,  who  knew  what  they 
were  doing  when  they  enlisted,  and  were  actuated  by  a  sense 
of  duty  to  enter  a  service  of  hardship  and  peril.  This  was  the 
secret  of  their  prominence  on  every  battlefield  where  they 
fought,  this  the  quality  in  them  that  called  forth  the  tributes 
of  commendation  from  superior  officers  that  brighten  the 
pages  of  this  book.  But  the  sterling  qualities  that  go  to  the 
making  of  a  good  soldier  are  the  same  that  win  confidence  and 
success  for  the  citizen.  It  is  no  matter  of  surprise,  therefore, 
that  when  those  men  resumed  the  occupations  of  peace,  after 
their  military  service  was  ended,  they  marched  easily  and 
naturally  to  the  front,  and  won  distinction  in  their  chosen  fields 
of  activity  in  civil  life.  Knowing  that  a  large  number  of  his 
veteran  comrades  in  arms  have  been  eminently  successful  in 
the  learned  professions,  in  business,  and  in  political  life,  it  is 
with  peculiar  pleasure  that  the  writer  closes  these  simple  annals 
with  a  chapter  of  personal  sketches.  And  he  feels  confident 
that  it  will  be  as  acceptable  as  it  is  appropriate,  to  head  the 
list  with  a  brief  biography  of  their  beloved  and  honored  leader, 


GENERAL    THOMAS. 

STEPHEN  THOMAS  needs  no  introduction  to  those  who  served 
with  him  in  the  army,  or  have  read  the  preceding  pages  of  this 
history.  But  since  to  know  him  is  to  respect  and  admire  him, 
and  because  it  is  natural  to  wish  to  learn  the  personal  history 
of  one  whom  we  admire,  he  has  consented  to  the  publication 
of  those  important  facts  which  connect  boyhood  with  manhood, 
the  civilian  with  the  soldier,  the  private  citizen  with  the  man 
of  public  affairs. 

It  helps  to  account  for  the  sterling  bravery  and  rugged 
integrity  of  Gen.  Thomas's  character  to  know  that  he  was 


254  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

descended  from  good  Welsh  stock,  on  the  paternal  side.  These 
qualities  were  a  heritage  from  the  mailed  knights  of  that 
glorious  Arthurian  age,  who  were 

"  sworn  to  vows 

Of  utter  hardihood,  utter  gentleness, 
And,  loving,  utter  faithfulness  in  love, 
And  uttermost  obedience  to  the  king." 

His  grandfather,  Joseph  Thomas,  was  born  in  New  Hamp 
shire,  and  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  His 
father,  John  Thomas,  was  born  in  Amherst,  N.  H.,  and  died  on 
the  field  of  battle  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  mother,  Rebecca 
Batchellor,  a  native  of  Brookfield,  Mass.,  belonged  to  a  good  old 
family  of  that  town,  whose  ancestors  immigrated  to  this 
country  in  1630.  Stephen,  their  third  child,  was  born  in  Bethel, 
Vt.,  Dec.  6th,  1809.  He  had  three  brothers  and  two  sisters, 
neither  of  whom  is  living. 

The  general's  early  life  was  what  the  English  would  call 
"  very  American."  The  schoolmaster  had  little  to  do  with  his 
corporal  or  his  intellectual  development.  He  attended  for  a 
while  such  a  common  school  as  the  town  of  Thetford  afforded  in 
those  days,  but  at  eighteen  years  of  age  was  apprenticed  to  a 
woollen  manufacturer,  learned  the  trade,  and  followed  it  for 
several  years  in  the  towns  of  Thetford,  Stafford,  and  Fairlee. 
Then  he  went  to  Hartland  and  started  a  factory  of  his  own, 
which  was  soon  destroyed  by  fire,  and  he  resumed  work  in 
Thetford,  and  finally  in  West  Fairlee. 

In  1830  Gen.  Thomas /married  Miss  Ann  Peabody,  of  Read 
ing,  and  a  son  and  a  daughter  were  born  to  them,  both  of 
whom  are  grown  up.  The  former  has  settled  in  Wisconsin,  and 
the  latter,  having  lost  her  husband  and  her  mother,  lives  with 
her  father. 

Very  early  in  life  Gen.  Thomas  evinced  a  decided  capacity 
and  taste  for  public  affairs,  and  soon  became  a  recognized 
leader  in  local  politics.  He  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  worked  conscientiously  for  its  interests  in  whatever 
honorable  avenue  was  open  to  him.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six, 


A    BUSY   LIFE.  255 

while  living  in  West  Fairlee,  he  was  appointed  sheriff  of 
Orange  county.  That  office  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  become 
familiar  with  the  business  of  the  courts,  and  for  several  years  he 
gave  attention  to  the  prosecution  of  Revolutionary  pension  and 
other  claims.  For  eight  years  he  was  connected  with  the  pro 
bate  court  of  his  county,  first  as  register  of  probate,  then  as 
judge.  .'.^- 

The  ability  for  leadership  displayed  by  Gen.  Thomas  soon 
gave  him  a  wide  reputation  in  political  circles,  and,  finding  him 
both  judicious  and  trustworthy,  the  people  put  him  forward 
to  advocate  their  interests.  He  represented  them  in  the 
General  Assembly  in  1838,  1839,  l845>  l846,  1860,  and  1861, 
and  was  a  state  senator  in  1848  and  1849.  ^n  1860  and  1861 
he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  lieutenant  governor,  and 
secured  a  large  vote,  but  his  party  failed  to  elect.  He  was  also 
chosen  to  fill  the  responsible  position  of  delegate  from  his  state 
to  the  National  Democratic  Convention,  during  several  presi 
dential  years.  In  1848  he  was  an  alternate,  and  in  1852,  1856, 
and  1860,  a  delegate. 

It  was  in  those  national  conventions  that  Thomas  became 
intimately  acquainted  with  the  southern  prejudice  and  animus, 
and  acquired  that  seer's  vision  which  enabled  him  to  read  the 
horoscope  of  the  country's  future  in  advance  of  most  of  his 
contemporaries.  Convinced  early  in  1860  that  a  great  sectional 
struggle  over  the  radical  differences  between  North  and  South 
was  inevitable,  the  prospect  so  troubled  him  that  for  months 
he  could  not  banish  it  from  his  thoughts,  and  scarcely  from  his 
dreams.  So  deeply  had  the  gravity  of  the  national  situation 
impressed  itself  on  his  mind,  that  it  brought  to  him  a  sense  of 
relief  when  the  firing  of  the  first  gun  at  Fort  Sumter  precipi 
tated  the  war  and  decided  the  course  of  the  government.  Then 
the  deep  convictions  which  had  been  long  repressed,  found 
room  for  action,  and  became  the  motive  power  which  invested 
all  that  he  did  and  said  with  superlative  power. 

Having  honestly  and  earnestly  taken  his  stand  on  the  burn 
ing  questions  of  the  hour,  Gen.  Thomas  could  no  longer  remain 
a  universal  favorite.  His  radical,  progressive  policy  would 


256  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

not  ally  itself  with  Democratic  conservatism,  and  a  faction  of 
those  who  had  been  his  firm  political  supporters  came  to  repudi 
ate  and  hate  him.  The  attitude  of  his  party  and  the  education 
of  the  army  were  the  means  of  conversion  in  his  case,  as  in 
that  of  many  other  officers  who  entered  the  struggle  as  stanch 
Democrats  and  came  out  Republicans.  In  1864  he  voted  the 
Republican  ticket,  but  made  up  his  mind  to  dp  so  silently,  and 
take  no  active  part  in  political  affairs.  But  the  leaders  who  had 
so  long  counted  on  him  could  not  overlook  the  desertion  of  their 
platform,  and,  after  remonstrating  with  him  in  vain,  ended  in 
persecuting  him,  until  he  was  compelled  to  take  up  the  issue 
publicly  in  defence  of  his  course.  "Thomas,"  they  said,  when 
he  returned  from  the  war,  "Thomas,  you've  changed;  we 
haven't."  "Fools  never  do,"  was  his  witty  reply. 

But  in  changing  party  affiliations  Gen.  Thomas  did  not  for 
sake  his  political  principles,  or  his  rugged  honesty  of  purpose. 
He  carried  into  the  Republican  ranks  the  same  inflexible  pur 
pose  to  do  what  was  for  the  common  good  that  had  actuated  his 
conduct  in  earlier  years,  and  the  party  recognized  and  honored 
him  for  it.  In  1867  and  1868  he  served  them  and  the  state 
most  acceptably  as  lieutenant  governor,  and  might  have  been 
re-elected  for  the  third  term  had  he  not  positively  refused  the 
use  of  his  name.  "He  would  not  be  a  candidate  for  governor 
when  urged  thereto  by  his  friends  ;  but  in  other  ways  he  per 
formed  a  vast  amount  of  useful  public  service.  For  eight  years, 
beginning  with  1870,  he  was  United  States  pension  agent,  and 
in  that  capacity  helped  to  reform  many  abuses  and  impositions 
in  the  modes  of  collecting  such  claims,  by  which  petty  lawyers 
extorted  unreasonable  fees  at  the  expense  of  poor  widows  and 
orphans.  He  was  state  delegate  to  the  soldiers'  convention 
that  nominated  Gen.  Grant  to  the  presidency  ;  he  has  been 
commander  of  the  Grand  Army  of  his  state,  president  of  the 
Officers'  Reunion  Society,  and  president  of  the  State  Soldiers' 
Reunion. 

For  several  years  Gen.  Thomas  has  resided  at  Montpelier, 
and  has  found  time  to  interest  himself  in  agriculture,  and  mean 
while  has  not  refused  the  demands  of  public  service  whenever 


IN  CIVIL   LIFE.  257 

the  voice  of  duty  called,  or  there  was  good  to  be  accomplished. 
At  the  age  of  seventy-six  he  enjoys  excellent  health,  and  is 
remarkably  vigorous.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  his  town  and  the  country,  and  makes  his  influence 
widely  felt  in  the  political  movements  that  engage  the  attention 
of  the  state. 

The  same  elements  of  character  which  won  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  in  their  colonel,  and  en 
deared  him  to  them  as  a  father, —  the  sturdy  rectitude  that 
bound  him  to  the  right,  and  kept  him  safe  from  the  seductions 
of  evil  policy, — have  given  Gen.  Thomas  an  assured  place  in  the 
hearts  of  his  fellow-citizens,  who  delight  to  show  their  gratitude 
for  his  distinguished  services  by  acts  of  public  honor  and  per 
sonal  kindness. 

It  would  be  hollow  eulogy  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  to 
insist  on  making  him  a  symmetrical  character ;  the  sphere  of 
human  activity  seldom  demands  a  perfectly  balanced  man. 
But  it  is  safe  to  say  that  his  great  strength  and  capacity  for 
usefulness  lay  in  a  clear  apprehension  of  the  right  thing  to  do,  and 
the  proper  time  to  do  it ;  blindness  to  the  suggestions  of  wrong  ; 
courage  to  stand  by  his  convictions,  and  postpone  the  less  to  the 
greater  good  ;  a  deep  moral  sense  of  equity  and  personal  respon 
sibility  ;  and  a  heart  loyal  to  duty,  his  country,  and  his  God. 

Patriotic  Vermont  has  had  a  long  list  of  civil  officers  who 
served  in  the  Union  army.  Among  those  who  have  filled  the 
executive  chair  with  honor,  were  Washburn,  Proctor,  Farnham, 
Barstow,  and  Pingree. 

Since  his  retirement  from  the  army,  Major  John  L.  Barstow 
has  filled  many  positions,  and  always  to  his  credit.  He  had 
hardly  reached  his  home  after  leaving  Louisiana,  before  he 
was  called  into  the  state  service  by  the  offer  of  a  responsible 
position  in  the  recruiting  service  by  Adj.  Gen.  Washburn, 
which  he  was  obliged  to  decline  on  account  of  shattered  health. 
In  the  following  September,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  and  it  was  during  the  session  in  which  he  served 
that  St.  Albans  was  attacked  by  Confederate  raiders  from  Can- 
17 


258  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

ada.  At  the  request  of  Gen.  Washburn,  he  went  to  the  scene 
of  action  by  the  first  train,  and  the  next  day  was  sent  into 
Canada  on  a  special  mission,  by  Major  Austine,  United  States 
military  commandant  of  the  state.  This*  famous  raid  created 
such  an  excitement  that  a  law  was  soon  passed,  establishing  three 
brigades  of  militia,  of  four  regiments  each,  and  Major  Barstow 
was  elected  by  the  legislature  as  one  of  the  brigade  com 
manders. 

Under  this  commission,  he  .was  ordered  by  Gov.  Smith  to 
take  command  of  the  provincial  forces  on  the  northwestern 
frontier,  where  he  remained  on  duty  until  relieved  by  Gen. 
Stannard,  in  January,  1865.  In  September  of  that  year  he 
was  again  elected  to  the  legislature  by  the  unanimous  vote  of 
his  town,  and  in  the  years  1866  and  1867  he  was  state  senator 
from  Chittenden  county.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  U.  S. 
pension  agent  at  Burlington,  which  office  he  held  for  nearly 
eight  years,  discharging  its  duties  in  such  a  manner  as  to  call 
from  Hon.  Carl  Schurz,  then  secretary  of  the  interior,  an  auto 
graph  letter  of  thanks.  In  1879  Gov.  Proctor  appointed  him 
state  commissioner  for  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  sur 
render  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  and  he  rendered  effective 
service  in  securing  government  aid  for  the  undertaking,  and  for 
the  monument,  and  in  arranging  plans  for  the  celebration. 

In  1880  he  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  of  the  state,  for 
the  biennial  term,  and  was  chosen  by  the  legislature  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  University  of  Vermont  and  State  Agricultural 
College,  which  position  he  held  in  1882  and  1883,  by  virtue  of 
his  office  as  governor,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  in  1882. 
The  Ely  riots  occurred  during  his  term  of  office,  and  his  course 
in  requiring  that  justice  should  precede  force,  and  that  the 
riotous  miners  should  be  paid  their  honest  dues,  attracted  much 
favorable  comment  throughout  the  country. 

Pending  the  nomination  of  his  successor,  in  1884,  a  major 
ity  of  the  Republican  newspapers  in  the  state  advocated  his 
renomination,  but  he  declined  to  become  a  candidate.  The 
quality  of  his  service  as  governor,  judged  by  the  press,  is 
shown  by  an  extract  from  the  Rutland  Herald  of  October, 


IN  CIVIL   LIFE.  259 

1884,  then  edited  by  the  well-known  critic,  Lucius  Bigelow.    In 
commenting  upon  Gov.  Barstow's  final  message,  he  said  : 

"  He  has  more  than  fulfilled  the  flattering  promises  made  for  him  by  his 
friends  when  he  was  nominated.  He  has  been  as  careful,  independent, 
able,  and  efficient  a  governor  as  we  have  had  in  Vermont  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  a  period  which  includes  executives  of  the  quality  of  Dilling- 
ham,  Peck,  and  Proctor." 

The  Brattleboro  Reformer,  of  same  date,  one  of  the  leading 
opposition  papers,  said  : 

"  This  message,  like  Gov.  Barstow's  inaugural,  also  will  take  rank  among 
the  best  and  most  sensible  state  papers  ever  presented  in  Vermont." 

Col.  John  B.  Mead  is  well  known  in  Vermont.  He  has  been 
an '  active  advocate  of  the  temperance  movement,  and  widely 
interested  in  agriculture  and  in  public  schools.  He  has  been 
representative  to  the  legislature,  senator  from  Orange  county, 
state  superintendent  of  agriculture,  and  at  the  International 
Exhibition  at  New  Orleans,  in  1885,  he  was  commissioner  for 
Vermont,  and  at  the  Exposition  of  1886  did  the  same  service 
for  New  England.  Col.  Mead  is  a  fluent  public  speaker,  and 

urges  his  opinions  with  enthusiasm  and  eloquence. 

• 

Lieut.  Col.  A.  B.  Franklin  has  been  a  member  of  both 
branches  of  the  legislature  of  Vermont,  and  served  for  several 
years  as  master  of  the  state  grange,  and  president  of  Wind- 
ham  County  Agricultural  Society. 

Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Dillingham  has  resided  in  the  South  since 
he  left  the  army.  For  several  yeais  he  was  engaged  in  mer 
cantile  business.  He  served  a  term  as  United  States  naval 
officer  at  New  Orleans.  He  is  at  present  receiver  of  the 
Houston  and  Texas  Railroad  Company. 

Capt.  W.  W.  Lynde  served  with  distinction  in  the  legisla 
ture  of  Vermont  for  a  number  of  years,  and  was  prominent  both 
in  the  House  and  the  Senate.  He  was  elected  by  the  General 
Assembly  quartermaster  general  of  the  state,  and  held  the 
position  for  several  years. 


260  THE    EIGHTH  VERMONT. 

Major  H.  M.  Pollard  settled  in  Missouri  after  he  retired 
from  the  army,  and  very  soon  became  a  leading  lawyer  in  the 
courts.  He  represented  Missouri  one  term  in  congress,  and 
then  took  up  his  residence  in  St.  Louis. 

Capt.  Henry  E.  Foster  and  Capt.  F.  D.  Butterfield  were 
custom  house  officers  at  Derby  Line  for  several  years. 

Commissary  Sergeant  William  H.  Gilmore  has  served  as 
representative  to  the  legislature  of  Vermont,  and  was  two 
years  a  state  senator.  For  several  years  he  was  president  of 
the  Orange  County  Agricultural  Society. 

Quartermaster  Fred  E.  Smith  has  been  very  successful  as  a 
business  man.  He  is  prominent  in  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  of  Vermont,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  in 
Chicago  when  Gen.  Grant  was  first  nominated  for  president. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  Reunion 
Society  of  Vermont  Officers.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  Ver 
mont  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  a  director  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Montpelier.  He  is  also  concerned  officially 
in  several  manufacturing  interests.  .He  has  been  active  in  the 
promotion  of  education,  is  a  trustee  of  Norwich  University, 
and  is  president  of  the  Public  Library  Association  of  Montpelier. 

Lieut.  J.  Elliott  Smith  has  been  for  years  superintendent 
of  the  fire  alarm  telegraph  of  New  York  City.  He  is  recog 
nized  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  electricians  in  the  country. 

Cyrus  U.  Lathrop ,  has  been  a  successful  farmer,  and  has 
served  as  assistant  judge  of  the  Orange  county  court. 

Capt.  L.  M.  Hutchinson  was  a  member  of  the  Vermont 
legislature  in  1884  and  1885,  and  at  present  is  railroad  commis 
sioner  for  Edmonds  county,  Dakota  Territory. 

Rufus  E.  Smith  was  deputy  sheriff  of  Santa  Barbara  county, 
California,  for  five  years. 

Drum  Major  G.  H.  Flagg,  after  being  mustered  out  of  the 


IN    CIVIL    LIFE.  26l 

regiment,  remained  in  New  Orleans,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Louisiana  legislature  during  the  reconstruction  period. 

Capt.  Geo.  O.  Ford,  Lieut.  Wheaton  Livingston,  and  Major 
Grout,  have  been  largely  interested  in  agriculture. 

Capt.  H.  E.  Perkins  was  a  resident  of  New  York  state  for 
some  years,  and  on  his  return  to  Vermont  was  elected  captain 
of  the  Barlow  Greys  at  St.  Albans,  a  position  he  now  holds. 
It  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  Vermont  militia  companies. 

Lieut.  Col.  Henry  F.  Button  controls  large  interests  in 
Florida,  and  is  at  the  head  of  a  flourishing  banking  house. 

Lieut.  James  Welch  has  been  a  successful  farmer  and  manu 
facturer.  , 

Quartermaster  Edward  Dewey  has  long  been  connected  with 
the  National  Life  Insurance  Company,  and  is  at  present  vice- 
president  of  the  company. 

Capt.  S.  E.  Howard  is  secretary  of  a  cattle  company  in 
Wyoming  Territory. 

Surgeon  Geo.  F.  Gale  is  eminent  in  his  profession  in  Vermont, 
and  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  state. 

Chas.  A.  Dean  is  the  manager  of  the  largest  Manila 
paper  and  paper  bag  manufacturing  company  in  the  United 
States. 

Herbert  E.  Hill  has  been  successful  in  the  cotton  business 
and  cotton  manufacturing,  which  has  brought  with  it  a  large 
and  pleasant  acquaintance  through  the  South.  He  has  been 
vice  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
While  secretary  of  the  Middlesex  Club,  of  Boston,  he  secured  a 
visit  of  one  week  from  Gen.  Grant,  as  guest  of  the  club.  He 
was  selected  by  the  electoral  college  as  special  messenger  to 
carry  to  Washington  the  Massachusetts  vote  for  Garfield  and 
Arthur. 


262  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Lieut.  H.  W.  Downs  has  been  successful  as  a  silk  manufac 
turer. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Smith  has  a  well-established  law  practice  in 
Chicago. 

Lieut.  W.  H.  H.  Holton  served  in  the  legislature  of  Vermont, 
and  for  several  years  has  been  inspector  of  customs  in  New 
York. 

B.  F.  Parkhurst,  after  remaining  a  few  years  in  Vermont, 
removed  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  entered  the  service  of  the 
state.  In  his  private  affairs  he  has  been  very  prosperous. 

Surgeon  H.  H.  Gillett,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  S.  H.  Currier, 
have  both  served  in  the  legislature  of  Vermont.  Both  are  suc 
cessful  practitioners. 

Lieut.  Lewis  Childs  has  held  the  position  of  president  of  the 
Gold  Room,  in  Boston. 

Capt.  S.  H.  Shattuck  has  been  largely  interested  in  educa 
tional  matters,  and  was  professor  in  Norwich  University  for 
several  years. 

D.  D.  Fairbanks,  Levi  H.  Parker,  Ethan  P.  Shores,  William 
H.  Silsby,  Martin  J.  Pond,  and  Granger  C.  Spencer,  of  Com 
pany  K,  have  been  members  of  the  legislature  of  Vermont. 

There  were  four  brothers  in  the  regiment  by  the  name  of 
Shontell,  all  six-footers,  and  brave  soldiers.  One  of  them  died 
of  disease  while  in  the  service ;  William  is  chief  of  police  in  the 
city  of  Brainard,  Minn.,  and  Xenophon  Udall  is  a  clergyman 
in  Loyalton,  Dak. 

Lieut.  M.  L.  Hodgkins  is  in  the  United  States  Land  Office  in 
Florida. 

B.  F.  Bowman  was  the  projector  of  the  Vermont  colony  at 
Loyalton,  Dak. 


A    WAR   GOVERNOR.  263 

Lieut.  Geo.  E.  Selleck  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  active 
citizens  of  Brattleboro,  Vt. 

Wm.  B.  Stickney  is  well  known  in  educational  circles,  and 
served  as  superintendent  of  colored  schools  in  the  city  of  New 
Orleans. 

Sergt.  O.  H.  Sprague  is  a  partner  in  a  leading  wholesale 
house  in  Chicago. 

Capt.  Moses  McFarland  has  been  prominent  in  the  local 
affairs  of  his  town. 

Asst.  Surgeon  O.  E.  Ross  has  made  a  fine  reputation  at  his 
home  in  Maine. 

Hospital  Steward  C.  M.  Ferrin  controls  a  large  practice  as 
physician,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  the  old  comrades 
as  secretary  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Society. 

Fred  E.  Smith  served  on  Gov.  Fairbahks's  staff  as  colonel 
and  A.  D.  C.  ;  George  N.  Carpenter  served  on  Gov.  Dilling- 
ham's  staff  as  colonel  and  A.  D.  C.,  and  is  a  trustee  of  Norwich 
University  ;  William  H.  Gilmore  served  on  Gov.  Barstow's  staff 
as  colonel  and  A.  D.  C.  ;  Herbert  E.  Hill  served  on  Gov.  Tal- 
bot's  staff,  in  Massachusetts,  as  colonel  and  A.  A.  G. 


GOVERNOR  HOLBROOK. 

ALTHOUGH  he  did  not  belong  to  the  Eighth  regiment,  Hon. 
Frederick  Holbrook,  the  war  governor  of  the  state,  had  much 
to  do  with  the  camp  at  Brattleboro,  which  was  called  after  his 
name,  and  deserves  fitting  mention  in  this  book.  All  the 
commissions  of  the  original  officers  of  the  regiment  bore  his 
signature,  and,  being  a  resident  of  Brattleboro,  he  took  a  deep 
personal  interest  in  its  welfare. 

Governor  Holbrook's  name  was  familiar  to  the  people  of 
Vermont  long  before  he  was  elected  to  fill  the  executive  chair. 


264  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

He  had  been  active  in  developing  the  agricultural  resources  of 
the  state,  and  for  many  years  was  president  of  the  State  Agri 
cultural  Society.  Being  so  well  and  favorably  known,  he  had 
the  confidence  and  sympathy  of  the  people  when  he  became 
governor  during  the  trying  days  of  1862.  A  great  responsi 
bility  at  once  devolved  upon  him,  but  he  entered  upon  the 
work  with  enthusiasm,  and  was  prompt  to  co-operate  with 
President  Lincoln  by  raising  and  sending  troops  to  the  front. 


MILITARY    HISTORY 


OF 


COMMISSIONED     OFFICERS 


The  date  of  each  commission  immediately  follows  the  name  and  rank. 


Stephen  Thomas.  Colonel,  Nov.  12,  1861  ;  brigadier  general, 
United  States  volunteers,  Feb.  i,  1865  ;  brevet  major  general,  United 
States  volunteers;  commanded  a  brigade  most  of  the  time  while 
colonel ;  acted  as  military  commander  at  Algiers,  La.,  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Mississippi ;  served  with  distinction  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  under  Sheridan  ;  ordered  a  successful  charge  on  his  own  re 
sponsibility  at  the  battle  of  Opequon  ;  in  the  morning  fight  at  Cedar 
Creek,  with  a  single  brigade  he  checked  the  advance  of  Early's  army 
on  the  pike. 

John  B.  Mead.  Second  lieutenant  Company  G,  Jan.  7,  1862  ;  ist 
lieutenant  Company  G,  April  2,  1863  ;  captain  Company  G,  May  5, 
1863;  major,  July  26,  1864;  lieutenant  colonel,  Nov.  24,  1864; 
colonel,  March  4,  1865  ;  taken  prisoner  at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  Sept. 
4,  1862  ;  wounded  Oct.  TQ,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  ; 
mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Edward  M.  Brown.  Adjutant  5th  Vermont  Volunteers,  Aug.  24, 
1861  ;  lieutenant  colonel  8th  Vermont,  Jan.  9,  1862  ;  resigned  Dec. 
23,  1862  ;  by  order  of  Gen.  Butler  was  detailed  as  editor  of  the  Delta, 
at  New  Orleans. 


266  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Charles  Dillingham.  Captain  Company  D,  2d  Vermont  Volun 
teers,  May  22,  1861  ;  major  8th  Vermont  Volunteers,  Jan.  19,  1862  ; 
lieutenant  colonel,  Dec.  24,  1862;  resigned  De^c.  12,  1863;  com 
manded  his  regiment  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  ;  served  on 
military  commission  for  several  months  in  New  Orleans. 

Henry  F.  Dutton.  Captain  Company  H,  Jan.  17,  1862  ;  major, 
June  12,  1863 ;  lieutenant  colonel,  Dec.  28,  1863  ;  honorably  dis 
charged  Nov.  1 6,  1864,  for  wounds  received  in  action  at  Winchester, 
Virginia,  Sept.  19,  1864;  commanded  special  detail  of  sharpshooters 
at  the  battle  of  the  Cotton  ;  honorably  mentioned  by  Col.  Thomas 
in  his  report  of  the  engagement ;  commanded  skirmishers  at  the 
battle  of  Bisland ;  in  transmitting  his  commission  as  major,  the 
governor  stated  that  Capt.  Dutton  was  promoted  for  "  distinguished 
services  at  the  battle  of  the  Cotton." 

Alvin  B.  Franklin.  First  lieutenant  Company  H,  Jan.  17,  1862  • 
wounded  June  22,  1862  ;  captain  Company  H,  June  12,  1863  ;  major, 
Nov.  24,  1864;  lieutenant  colonel,  March  4,  1865;  mustered  out  June 
28,  1865  ;  complimented  in  Colonel  Thomas's  report  to  the  adjutant 
general  of  Vermont,  for  brave  action  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  recom 
mended  to  be  brevetted  major ;  inspector  general  on  brigade  staff. 

Luman  M.  Grout  Captain  Company  A,  Nov.  13,  1861  ;  major, 
Dec.  24,  1862  ;  resigned  June  n,  1863. 

John  L.  BarstOW.  Quartermaster  sergeant;  adjutant,  Feb.  19, 
1862;  captain  Company  K,  Mar.  21,  1863;  major,  Dec.  28,  1863; 
mustered  out  June  22,  1864;  honorably  mentioned  for  his  personal 
services  in  the  engagement  of  the  Cotton  ;  served  as  assistant  adjutant 
general  on  the  brigade  staff  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  ;  com 
plimented  in  report  of  brigade  commander  for  gallantry  in  the  assault 
on  Port  Hudson,  June  14;  in  command  of  the  recruits  and  those 
who  did  not  re-enlist,  while  the  veterans  were  on  furlough ;  for  a  time 
post  commander  at  Thibodeaux,  La. 

Henry  M.  Pollard.  First  lieutenant  Company  I,  July  12,  1863; 
captain,  Nov.  7,  1863  ;  major,  April  6,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June 
28,  1865  ;  served  as  provost  marshal  on  brigade  staff. 

Henry  Carpenter.     Private  Company  A,  Oct.  23,  1 86 1  ;  corporal, 


MILITARY  RECORD.  267 

Feb.  18,  1862;  sergeant;  ist  sergeant;  sergeant  major,  Sept.  17, 
1863;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  F,  Aug.  23, 
1864;  adjutant,  Nov.  24,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Fred  E.  Smith.  Quartermaster,  Nov.  23,  1861  ;  honorably  dis 
charged  Nov.  30,  1863  ;  served  as  acting  commissary  of  subsistence, 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Godfrey  Weitzel,  while  he  commanded  brigade 
and  division  in  Louisiana. 

Edward  Dewey.  Quartermaster,  Jan.  12,  1864;  captain  and 
assistant  quartermaster  U.  S.  volunteers,  Feb.  n,  1865. 

James  Welch.  Private  Company  G,  Nov.  20,  1861  ;  sergeant 
Feb.  18,  1862  •  2d  lieutenant  May  5,  1863  ;  honorably  discharged 
as  2d  lieutenant  Feb.  17,  1865,  for  wounds  received  in  action  Oct. 
19,  1864,  at  Cedar  Creek;  quartermaster,  March  27,  1865  ;  mustered 
out  June  28,  1865  ;  commanded  the  skirmish  line  of  second  brigade, 
first  division,  igth  A.  C.,  at  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 

Geo.  F.  Gale.     Surgeon,  Dec.   10,   1861  ;  resigned  June  24,  1862. 

Herman  H.  Gillett.  Assistant  surgeon,  Dec.  10,  1 86 1  ;  surgeon 
June  25,  1862  ;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865  ;  was  detailed  at  different 
times  for  staff  duties,  and  for  duty  as  director  of  General  Hospital. 

Samuel  H.  Currier.  Hospital  steward,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  assistant 
surgeon,  June  25,  1862  ;  resigned  Oct.  20,  1862. 

Cyrus  H.  Allen.  Assistant  surgeon,  Oct.  i,  1862  ;  surgeon  5th 
Vermont  Volunteers,  Oct.  i,  1864. 

Oliver  E.  ROSS.  Assistant  surgeon,  Sept.  17,  1863  ;  mustered  out 
June  28,  1865  ;  served  for  a  time  on  brigade  staff. 

J.  Elliott  Smith.  Quartermaster  sergeant ;  lieutenant  on  Gen. 
Butler's  staff ;  military  superintendent  of  telegraph,  department  of  the 

Gulf. 

Francis  C.  Williams.  Chaplain,  Dec.  20,  1861  ;  mustered  out 
June  22,  1864. 

Thomas  Bayne.  Chaplain,  Feb.  23,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June 
28,  1865. 


268  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

CAPTAINS. 

Moses  McFarland.  First  lieutenant  Company  A,  Nov.  13,  1861  ; 
captain  Dec.  24,  1862  ;  mustered  out,  June  28,  1865  '•>  was  honorably 
mentioned  for  his  services  at  the  battle  of  the  Cotton,  and  also  for  his 
gallantry  at  Cedar  Creek;  part  of  the  day  commanded  the  regiment 
at  Cedar  Creek. 

Charles  B.  Child.  Captain  Company  B,  Dec.  19,  1861  ;  resigned 
Oct.  21,  1863;  was  provost  marshal  at  Algiers,  La.,  for  several 
months. 

Frederick  D.  Blltterfield.  Second  lieutenant  Company  B,  Dec. 
19,  1861  ;  ist  lieutenant,  June  15,  1863  ;  captain,  Nov.  7,  1863  ;  re 
signed  July  22,  1864  ;  was  detailed  as  signal  officer  in  May,  1862,  and 
served  through  the  war  in  that  branch  of  the  service. 

John  Bisbee.  Private  Company  B,  Nov.  22,  1861  ;  ist  sergeant, 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  wounded  June  14,  1863;  2d  lieutenant  Company  B, 
July  15,  1863  >  ist  lieutenant,  Nov.  7,  1863  ;  captain,  Aug.  21,  1864; 
mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Henry  E.  Foster.  Captain  Company  C,  Dec.  23,  1861  ;  wounded 
May  27,  1863  ;  resigned  Aug.  15,  1863  ;  when  the  Opelousas  Railroad 
was  opened,  Capt.  Foster  became  military  superintendent. 

George  N.  Carpenter.  Private  ;  sergeant  major,  Feb.  18,  1862  ; 
ist  lieutenant  Company  C,  June  i,  1862  ;  captain  Company  C,  August 
15,  1863  ;  served  as  acting  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  and  aid-de-camp 
on  brigade  staff ;  discharged  July  2,  1864,  to  accept  appointment  as 
captain  and  commissary  of  subsistence  U.  S.  volunteers ;  the  last  year 
of  the  war  he  served  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  R.  A.  Cameron,  U.  S. 
volunteers. 

S.  E.  Howard.  Private  Company  H,  Nov.  19,  1861  ;  ist 
sergeant,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  2cl  lieutenant  Company  H,  Jan.  12,  1863  ; 
captain  Company  C,  July  26,  1864;  honorably  discharged,  Dec.  9, 
1864,  for  wounds  received  in  action  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  Oct.  19, 
1864;  served  as  acting  quartermaster  of  the  regiment,  Jan.  to  Dec., 
1863;  in  charge  of  recruiting  party  sent  to  Vermont,  Dec.,  1863,  to 
March,  1864;  acting  adjutant  during  veteran  furlough  of  regiment; 


MILITARY  RECORD,      .  269 

A.  A.  D.  C.  on  brigade  staff,  and  acting  quartermaster  of  brigade ; 
judge  advocate  of  court  martial  held  on  steamer  Cahawba,  between 
New  York  and  New  Orleans. 

Joseph  N.  Dim  ton.  Private  Company  H,  Nov.  23,  1861  ; 
corporal,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  sergeant ;  ist  sergeant,  Nov.  26,  1863  ;  re-en 
listed  Jan.  5,  1864;  2d  lieutenant  Company  H,  Feb.  20,  1864;  ist 
lieutenant  Company  H,  Nov.  24,  1864;  captain  Company  C,  March 
3,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

CyrilS  B.  Leach.  Capt.  Company  D,  Dec.  28,  1861  ;  mustered 
out  June  22,  1864. 

Alfred  E.  Getchell.  ist  lieutenant  Company  D,  Dec.  28,  1861  ; 
captain,  July  26,  1864  ;  mustered  out  Feb.  26,  1865. 

William  H.  Haskins.  Private  Company  D,  Nov.  21,  1861  ; 
hospital  steward,  June  25,  1862;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  captain 
Company  D,  March  3,  1865  ;  mustered  out  Feb.  26,  1865. 

Edward  Hall.  Capt.  Company  E,  Jan.  i,  1862  ;  wounded  June  14, 
1863  ;  died  Oct.  28,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Cedar 
Creek,  Va.,  Oct.  19,  1864;  taken  prisoner  at  Des  Allemands,  La., 
Sept.  4,  1862. 

Lemuel  M.  Hutchinson.  Private  Company  A,  Oct.  i,  1861  ; 
ist  sergeant,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  A,  July  23, 
1862  ;  ist  lieutenant  Company  A,  Dec.  24,  1862  ;  captain  Company 
E,  Nov.  24,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865;  served  as  acting 
adjutant  of  the  regiment  for  a  few  months. 

Hiram  E.  Perkins.  Captain  Company  F,  Jan.  3,  1862  ;  dis 
charged  for  promotion  as  major  in  U.  S.  colored  troops,  May  31,  1863. 

Daniel  S.  Foster.  ist  lieutenant  Company  F,  Jan.  3,  1862  ; 
captain,  April  9,  1863  ;  mustered  out  June  22,  1864. 

William  H.  Smith.  Private  Company  H,  Nov.  19,  1861  ; 
sergeant,  Feb.  18,  1862;  ist  sergeant,  Jan.  13,  1863;  ist  lieutenant 
Company  F,  October  i,  1863  ;  captain  Company  F,  July  26, 
1864;  wounded,  June  22,  1862,  and  Oct.  19,  1864;  mustered  out 


2/0  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

June  28,  1865  ;  commanded  the  skirmish  line  for  his  brigade  at  Win 
chester,  Sept.  19,  1864;  on  duty  as  acting  post  commissary  at 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

Samuel  G.  P.  Craig.  Captain  Company  G*  Jan.  7,  1862.  Died 
May  4,  1863,  at  Opelousas,  La.,  of  disease. 

John  M.  Pike.  Private,  Company  G,  Dec.  6,  1861  ;  sergeant, 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  ist  sergeant ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  G,  April  2, 
1863;  wounded,  June  14,  1863;  ist  lieutenant  Company  G,  May  5, 
1863  ;  captain,  July  26,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Samuel  W.  Shattuck.  Drafted  July  15,  1863  ;  appointed  adju 
tant  Oct.  20,  1863  ;  wounded  Oct.  19,  1864  ;  captain  Company  H, 
Nov.  24,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865.  For  a  time  served  as 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general  of  second  brigade,  first  division,  i9th 
Army  Corps. 

William  W,  Lyilde.  Captain  Company  I,  Jan.  17,  1862; 
resigned  Oct.  18,  1863,  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Francis  E.  Warren.  Private  Company  I,  Dec.  23,  1 86 1  ;  cor 
poral,  Feb.  18,  1862;  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  sergeant, 
June  8,  1864;  wounded  Sept.  19,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  I, 
Feb.  23,  1865 ;  captain,  April  18,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June  28. 
1865. 

John  S-  Clark.  Captain  Company  K,  Jan.  22,  1862  ;  died 
March  20,  1863,  of  disease,  at  Hospital  Hotel  Dieu,  New  Orleans, 
La. 

Geo.  0.  Ford.  Private  Company  K,  Dec.  16,  1861  ;  sergeant, 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  K,  Feb.  19,  1863  \  ist  lieu 
tenant  Company  K,  July  i,  1863;  wounded  Sept.  19,  1864,  and  Oct. 
19,  1864  ;  mustered  out  Feb.  26,  1865. 

James  W.  Smith.  Private  Company  K,  Feb.  3,  1862  ;  corporal  ; 
sergeant;  ist  sergeant,  Feb.  17,  1864;  re-enlisted  Feb.  18,  1864;  2d 
lieutenant  Company  K,  Feb.  20,  1864;  captain  Company  K,  Feb.  23, 
1865  '•>  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 


MILITARY   RECORD.  271 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Ezra  H.  BrOWll.  Private  Company  A,  Oct.  i,  1861  ;  corporal, 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  sergeant;  ist  sergeant,  Dec.  14,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  Jan. 
5,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  A,  Dec.  13,  1864;  mustered  out 
June  28,  1865. 

Stephen  F.  Spalding.  ist  lieutenant  Company  B,  Dec.  19, 
1861  }  killed  in  action  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  June  14,  1863;  was 
acting  adjutant  of  the  regiment  when  he  was  killed  in  the  charge  of 
i4th  of  June. 

Wheaton  Livingston,  Jr.  Private  Company  B,  Dec.  2.  1 86 1  ; 
corporal;  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  sergeant,  June  9, 
1864;  wounded  Sept.  19,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  B,  Aug.  21, 
1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Edward  B.  Wright,  ist  lieutenant  Company  C,  Dec.  23,  1861  ; 
resigned  June  6,  1862. 

Lewis  Child.  Private  Company  D,  Dec.  7,  1861  ;  regimental 
commissary  sergeant,  March  i,  1862  ;  ist  lieutenant  Company  C, 
Dec.  6,  1863  ;  mustered  out  June  30,  1865  ;  served  as  acting  com 
missary  of  subsistence  on  staffs  of  second  brigade  and  first  division 
of  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  ;  received  honorable  mention  for  gallant 
service  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 

Edward  F.  Gould.  Private  Company  D,  Jan.  3,  1862  ;  sergeant 
Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  sergeant,  April  22,  1864; 
ist  lieutenant  Company  D,  July-26,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28, 
1865. 

Kilburn  Day.  ist  lieutenant  Company  E,  Jan.  i,  1862  ;  re 
signed  Dec.  n,  1832. 

Andrew  J.  Sargent.  Private  Company  K,  Feb.  13,  1862  ;  ist 
sergeant,  Feb.  18,  1862;  2d  lieutenant  Company  E,  July  24,  1862; 
ist  lieutenant  Company  E,  Dec.  12,  1863;  wounded  Oct.  19,  1864; 
mustered  out  Feb.  26,  1865  ;  taken  prisoner  at  Bayou  des  Allemands, 
La.,  Sept.  4,  1862. 

Geo.  G.  Hutchins.  Private  Company  E,  Jan.  10,  1862  ;  sergeant ; 
ist  sergeant,  Aug.  i,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864  ;  2d  lieutenant 


2/2  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Company  E,  Feb.  20,   1864;    ist    lieutenant   Company   E,   Feb.    23, 
1865  ;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Merrill  L.  HodgkhlS.  Private  Company  H,  Dec.  6,  1861  ;  cor 
poral,  Feb.  1 8,  1861;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  regimental  commissary 
sergeant,  June  9,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  F,  Nov.  24,  1864; 
mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Job  W.  Green,  ist  lieutenant  Company  G,  Jan.  7,  1862  ;  resigned 
April  i,  1863  ;  taken  prisoner  at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  Sept.  4,  1862. 

Martin  L.  Bruce.  Private  Company  G,  Nov.  27,  1861  ;  corporal 
Jan.  i,  1864;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  sergeant  July  i,  1864;  wounded 
Oct.  19,  1864  ;  ist  lieutenant  Company  G,  March  3,  1865  ;  mustered 
out  June  28,  1865. 

Waitstill  R.  Pettee.  Private  Company  H,  Dec.  10,  1861  ;  cor 
poral  ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  sergeant,  April  12,  1864;  regimental 
quartermaster  sergeant,  July  i,  1864;  2cl  lieutenant  Company  H, 
Nov.  24,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company  H,  March  3,  1865  5  mustered 
out  June  28,  1865. 

Geo.  N.  Holland,  ist  lieutenant  Company  I,  Jan.  17,  1862;  re 
signed  Oct.  25,  1862. 

Joshua  C-  Morse.  2d  lieutenant  Company  I,  Jan.  17,  1862  ;  ist 
lieutenant,  Oct.  25,  1862  ;  resigned  July  10,  1863. 

George  E.  Selleck.  Private  Company  I,  Dec.  7,  1861  /  ist  ser 
geant,  Feb.  18,  1862;  2d  lieutenant  Company  I,  Oct.  25,  1862;  ist 
lieutenant  Company  I,  Nov.  7,  1863  ;  mustered  out  Feb.  26,  1865. 

Frank  R.  Warner.  Private  Company  I,  Jan.  13,  1862  ;  corporal ; 
sergeant;  re-enlisted  Feb.  18,  1864;  ist  sergeant;  2d  lieutenant 
Company  I,  Feb.  20,  1864;  ist  lieutenant,  April  18,  1865;  mustered 
out  June  28,  1865  ;  detailed  as  aid  on  General  McMillan's  staff. 

Adoniram  J.  Howard,  ist  lieutenant  Company  K,  Jan.  22, 
1862  ;  died  Nov.  18,  1862,  of  disease  ;  served  for  a  time  as  acting 
quartermaster  of  the  regiment. 

Geo.  F.  French.  2d  lieutenant  Company  K,  Jan.  22,  1862;  ist 
lieutenant  Jan.  3,  1863;  resigned  June  21,  1863;  wa$  detailed  for 


MILITARY  RECORD.  273 

the  signal  service  May,  1862,  and  served  in  that  corps  until  he  retired 
from  the  army. 

Nathan  C.  Cheney.  Private  Company  K,  Dec.  9,  1861  ;  musician, 
Feb.  1 8,  1862;  sergeant;  ist  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist 
lieutenant  Company  K,  Dec.  28,  1863;  died  Oct.  21,  1864,  of  wounds 
received  in  action  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  Oct.  19,  1864. 

Perry  Porter,  Jr.  Private  Company  K,  Jan.  i,  1862  ;  sergeant 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864  ;  ist  sergeant  April  12,  1864; 
wounded  June  14,  1863,  and  Sept.  19,  1864;  ist  lieutenant  Company 
K,  Nov.  24,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Oilman  S.  Rand.  2d  lieutenant  Company  A,  Nov.  13,  1861 ; 
died  July  22,  1862,  of  disease  at  Algiers,  La. 

Aaron  K.  Cooper.  Private  Company  A,  Sept.  26,  1861  ;  corporal, 
Feb.  18,  1862  ;  sergeant;  2d  lieutenant  Company  A,  Dec.  24,  1862  • 
killed  in  action  at  Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  Oct.  19,  1864. 

Henry  H.  Newton.  Private  Company  A,  Oct.  19,  1861  ;  corporal ; 
sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  2d  lieutenant  Company  A,  Dec. 
13,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865  ;  served  on  brigade  staff. 

William  H.  Spencer.  Private  Company  B,  Nov.  30,  1 86 1  ; 
sergeant,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  wounded  June  14,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5, 
1864;  ist  sergeant;  2d  lieutenant  Company  B,  Feb.  20,  1864;  hon 
orably  discharged  March  9,  1865,  for  wounds  received  in  action  at 
Cedar  Creek,  Virginia,  Oct.  19,  1864. 

CurtlSS  W.  Lynn.  Private  Company  B,  Nov.  25,  1861  ;  corporal ; 
re-eniisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  sergeant,  March  24,  1864;  ist  sergeant, 
March  2,  1865  ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  B,  April  6,  1865  ;  mustered 
out  June  28,  1865. 

Frederick  J.  Fuller.  2d  lieutenant  Company  C,  Dec.  23,  1861  ; 
dismissed  the  service  June  2,  1863. 

John  A.  Ripley.  Private  Company  C,  Nov.  30,  1861  ;  corporal, 
Feb.  18,  1862;  sergeant;  ist  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864; 
2d  lieutenant  Company  C,  Feb.  20,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

18 


2/4  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Darius  GL  Child.  2d  lieutenant  Company  D,  Dec.  28,  1861  ; 
died  of  disease  July  20,  1862,  at  Algiers,  La. 

Dennis  Buckley.  Private  Company  D,  Nfcv.  2,  1861  ;  ist  ser 
geant,  Feb.  18,  1862  ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  D,  July  22,  1862  ; 
cashiered  and  dismissed  the  service  Dec.  7,  1863. 

Nathaniel  Robie.  Private  Company  D,  Nov.  22,  1861 ;  sergeant, 
Feb.  18,  1862;  ist  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  wounded  May 
27,  1863,  and  Sept.  19,  1864;  2d  lieutenant  Company  D,  Feb.  20, 
1864;  died  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  Dec.  6,  1864,  of  disease. 

Horace  P.  EmerSOll.  Private  Company  D,  Dec.  9,  1861  ;  cor 
poral,  July  i,  1863  ;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  sergeant,  April  22,  1864  ; 
2d  lieutenant  Company  D,  March  3,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June  28, 
1865. 

Truman  P.  Kellogg.  2d  lieutenant  Company  E,  Jan.  i,  1862  ; 
died  July  23,  1862,  of  disease,  at  Algiers,  La. 

Newell  H.  Hibbard.  Private  Company  E,  Sept.  30,  1861  ;  cor 
poral,  Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  sergeant,  Feb.  23, 
1864;  ist  sergeant,  June  8,  1864;  2d  lieutenant  Company  E,  Feb. 
23,  1865;  resigned  June  12,  1865. 

Carter  H.  NaSOn.  2d  lieutenant  Company  F,  Jan.  3,  1862;  dis 
missed  the  service  June  2,  1863. 

Franklin  R.  Carpenter.  Private  Company  F,  Nov.  25,  1861  ; 
corporal,  Feb.  18,  1862;  2d  lieutenant  Company  F,  Dec.  8,  1863; 
wounded  Oct.  19,  1864;  'mustered  out  June  28,  1865;  taken  prisoner 
at  Cedar  Creek. 

Abner  N.  Flint.  Private  Company  G,  Dec.  18,  1861  ;  corporal; 
re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  sergeant,  July  i,  1864;  2d  lieutenant 
Company  G,  Nov.  24,  1864;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

William  H.  H.  Holton.  2d  lieutenant  Company  H,  Jan.  17, 
1862  ;  wounded  at  Raceland,  La.,  June  22,  1862  ;  resigned  Jan.  13, 
1863,  and  entered  the  service  again  in  Invalid  Corps. 


MILITARY   RECORD. 

HymenillS    A.     Davis.      Private    Company    H,    Dec.   23,   1861  ; 

corporal,  Feb.  18,  1862;  sergeant;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist 
sergeant,  April  12,  1864;  2d  lieutenant  Company  H,  March  3,  1865  ; 
mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Henry  W.  Downs.  Private  Company  I,  Nov.  28,  1861  ;  corporal ; 
sergeant,  Dec.  13,  1863;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864;  ist  sergeant; 
March  21,  1865  ;  2d  lieutenant  Company  I,  April  18,  1865  ;  mustered 

out  June  28,  1865. 

» 

George  W.  HilL  Private  Company  K,  Dec.  9,  1861  ;  corporal, 
Feb.  18,  1862;  wounded  Sept.  4,  1862;  re-enlisted  Jan.  5,  1864; 
sergeant,  Feb.  n,  1864;  ist  sergeant,  Feb.  6,  1865;  2d  lieutenant 
Company  K,  Feb.  23,  1865  ;  mustered  out  June  28,  1865. 

Officers  discharged  from  regiment  as  field  and  staff,  20;  as  captains, 
24  ;-as  ist  lieutenants,  21  ;  as  2d  lieutenants,  20  ;  total  officers,  85. 


Promotions  of  Enlisted  Men. 


COMPANY    A, 

SERGEANTS. 

Riser,  Harvey  O.,  promoted  in   colored 
regiment,  Sept.  14,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

Holbrook,  Cornelius  D.,  sergeant. 
Woods,  Horace,  musician  ;  sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Albee,  Stephen  CM  corporal. 
Beard,   Charles    W.,   corporal,   April    4, 

1865. 
Brown,  Kirk  F.,  corporal  ;  sergeant,  Dec. 

14,  1863. 

Blood,  Oilman  W.,  corporal,  May  9,  1865. 
Brackett,  Aurick  S.,  hospital  steward, 

April  12,  1865. 

Blake,  Chas.  W.,  captain  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Carpenter,  Jephaniah,  corporal ;  sergeant, 

March  4,  1865. 

Clark,  Rufus  H.,  captain  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Downey,  Henry   D.,  corporal;   sergeant, 

May  9,  1865. 

Fullington,  Chas.  B.,  lieutenant  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Goodridge,  Oscar  W.,  captain  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Hill,  Seth  C.,  sergeant,  Dec.  14,  1863;  ist 

sergeant,  Feb.  25,  1865. 
Hovey,  Rodger,  corporal. 
Kent,  Melvin  P.,  corporal. 
Mudgett,  Geo.  E.,  corporal,  Dec.  3,  1863. 
Page,  Albert  W.,  corporal. 


Page,  Wm.  B.,  corporal,  March  15,  1865. 

Smith,  Harvey  P.,  lieutenant. 

Tobin,  Michael  B.,  promoted  in  colored 

regiment,  Sept.  14,  1863. 
Tobin,  Alfred  L.,  corporal ;  sergeant,  Feb. 

23,  1865. 

Wells,  Marshall  W.,  corporal. 
Westover,  Wm.  G.,  lieutenant. 
Wood,  Chas.  G.,  lieutenant. 
Willey,  Martin  C.,  corporal,  May  9,  1865. 

COMPANY   B. 

CORPORALS. 

Holt,  Henry  H.,   sergeant  ;    ist  sergeant, 

May  2,  1865. 
Harney,  Hiram  P.,  2d  lieutenant  National 

Guards,  August  1862. 
Moran,  Asa  B.,  sergeant,  June  9,  1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

Blake,  Isaac,  chaplain  colored  regiment. 

PRIVATES. 

Atherton,  John,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Barrett,  Chas.  S.,  corporal,  March  2,  1864; 

sergeant,  May  2,  1865. 
Blanchard,  Geo.  F.,  corporal,  June  9,  1864. 
Baraby,  Joseph,  corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Bovven,  John,  musician. 
Cunningham,  Wm.,  musician. 
Dawson,  John  R.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Foss,  Henry  M.,  corporal. 


PROMOTIONS. 


277 


Griffin,  Geo.  E.,  corporal,  November  i, 

1864. 
Halladay,  Wilbert  E.,  corporal  ;  sergeant, 

July  i,  1864. 
Henry,  Wm.  H.,  corporal;  sergeant,  March 

2,  1865. 

McAuliffe,  John,  corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Mooney,  Edward,  lieutenant  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Murphy,  Patrick,  corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Parsons,  Walter  W.,  corporal. 
Smith,  John  C.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Reed,  Winslow  T.,  corporal,  March  2, 

1865. 
Warren,  Myron  P.,  corporal. 

COMPANY    C. 

SERGEANTS. 

Abbott,  Henry  C.,  promoted    in  Second 

Louisiana  Volunteers,  Sept.  i,  1862. 
Hawley,  A.  P.,  captain  U.  S.  C.  T. 

CORPORALS. 

Gilman,  John,  sergeant. 
Lynn,  Orange  S.,  sergeant. 
Crosby,  William  K.,  promoted  in  Second 

Louisiana  Volunteers,  Aug.,  1862. 
Prouty,     Elijah  K.,  promoted   in  Second 

Louisiana  Volunteers,  Oct.  i,  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  John,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Cushman,  Francis  C.,  musician. 
Chamberlin,   Lawrence   K.,  promoted  in 

Second    Louisiana     Volunteers,    Aug., 

1862. 
Cobban,  Simon  C.  F.,  corporal,  June    i, 

1864. 

Goodell,  Geo.  C.,  corporal. 
Herriman,  Turrill  E.,  corporal ;    sergeant, 

July    i,    1864 ;    ist    sergeant,  Dec.   30, 

1864. 

Jay,  Nathan  P.,  corporal,  Jan.  5,  1864. 
Kennedy,  Horace   W.,  promoted  second 

lieutenant    Louisiana    volunteers,   Feb. 

28,  1863. 
Lathrop,  Cyrus  W.,  corporal,  March   30, 

1865. 
Leavitt,  Nehemiah,  sergeant. 


Lewis,  Sumner  W  ,  lieutenant  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Martin,  Carlos,  corporal,  Jan.  i,  1865. 
McNab,  Carlos,  wagoner. 
Montret,  Adolphe,  corporal,  Jan.  i,  1865. 
Noyes,    James,    promoted    in    Louisiana 

National  Guards,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Noyes,  Parker  J.  2d  lieutenant  Louisiana 

volunteers. 

Noyes,  William,  captain. 
Potwin,     Napoleon,  corporal;    sergeant, 

Jan.  5,  1864. 
Pinard,  Jovite,   corporal,  June    i,    1864; 

sergeant,  Jan.  i,  1865. 
Putnam,    Cornelius   H  ,   corporal,  July  i, 

1864;   sergeant,  March  30,  1865. 
Severance,  Henry  V.,  corporal ;  sergeant; 

sergeant  major,  Oct.  16,  1864. 
Smith,  Henry  L.,  corporal ;  sergeant,  April 

12,  1864. 
Spencer,   Loren    H.,   corporal;    sergeant, 

July  i,  1864. 

Swinger,  Lawrence,  corporal,  July  I,  1864. 
Simons,  Orin,  corporal,  June  I,  1864. 
Titus,  Lewis  R.,  lieutenant  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Whipple,    Hiram    L.,    promoted    second 
lieutenant   Louisiana    volunteers,   Feb. 
28,  1863. 
Woods,  Samuel  N.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 

COMPANY    D. 

CORPORALS. 

Peabody,  William  S.,  lieutenant  U.S.C.T. 
Gilmore,  Wm.  H.,  promoted  quartermas 
ter  sergeant,  July  i,  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin,  Geo.  H.,  corporal;  sergeant. 
Bacon,    Hiram,    Jr.,    corporal ;  sergeant, 

Feb.  23, 1865. 

Baldwin,  Absalom,  corporal. 
Daniels,  Oscar  B.,  corporal,  Feb.  23,  1865. 
Haynes,   Edward    W.,   corporal,   May   5, 

1865. 

Hayward,  Putnam,  corporal. 
Lake,  Edwin,  corporal. 
Mann,    Stephen  H.,   corporal;    sergeant; 

commissary  sergeant,  Feb.  6,  1865. 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


Mills,  Jacob,  Jr.,  sergeant;  ist  sergeant, 
Sept.  i,  1864. 

Richardson,  Henry  C.,  corporal;  sergeant, 
Sept.  11,  1864. 

Rowe,  Rufus  H.,  sergeant. 

Sprague,  Lyman  W.,  corporal,  May  5, 
1865. 

Taplin,  Horace  E.,  corporal;  sergeant, 
Sept.  n,  1864. 

Tuttle,  Elias  J  ,  corporal. 

Tuttle,  Geo.  L.,  corporal,  May  5,  1865. 

Wild,  Azariah  T.,  quartermaster  3d  col 
ored  regiment. 

COMPANY  E. 

CORPORALS. 

Phelps,  John  F.,  sergeant. 
Bowman,  Benjamin  F.,  sergeant,  June  8, 
1864  ;     ist  sergeant,  March  20,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Abbott,  Calvin  B.,  musician. 

Brandt,  Aleck,  corporal. 

Corliss,  Albert  A.,  corporal,  June  8, 1864  ; 

sergeant,  March  20,  1865. 
Hills,  William  P.,  corporal,  Feb.  15,  1864. 
Holmes,  Ira,  corporal.  Jan.  i,  1864. 
Hull,  Horace  A.,  corporal,  March  i,  1865. 
Jones,  John  P.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Labarron,    Robinson,   corporal,    July    i, 

1864. 
Larned,  Rollin  E.,  musician,,  transferred. 

from  Company  G. 

Maxham,  George,  corporal,.  July  i,  1864. 
Morse,  Andrew  J.,  corporal,  Jan.  i,  1864. 
Mason,  Hezekiah  W.,  corporal,/ March  I, 

1865. 
Putman,  Hiram  M.,  corporal ;  sergeant, 

July  i,  1864. 
Phelps,   Benijah,   corporal,  July  i,  1864; 

sergeant,  March  20,  1865. 
Pike,  Geo.  T.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Reynolds,  Henry  A.,  musician. 
Staples,    Francis   H.,  corporal  -r  sergeant. 

July  i,  1864. 

Staples,  Charles,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Tirrell,  Eri  W.,  corporal,  Mareh  i,  1865. 


COMPANY  F. 

SERGEANTS. 

Nichols,  Henry*  C.,    discharged   for   pro 
motion,  Oct.  8,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 
Wood,  Xenophon  W.,  sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Burnham,  Benjamin  F.,  discharged  Dec. 

13,    1864,.    for    promotion    in    colored 

troops. 

Bartron,  Napoleon,  Jr.,  corporal. 
Bordo,  Julius,  corporal,  May  18,  1865. 
Clapper,  Jacob,  corporal,  May  18,  1865. 
Davis,  John  E.,  corporal. 
Davis,  Lewis  A.,  corporal. 
Dicker,  William  A.,  corporal,  March  18, 

1865. 

Duling,  John,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Ellsworth,    Hebron,    corporal  ;  sergeant> 

July  i,  1864. 
Faueuf,  Geo.  N.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864  ; 

sergeant,  May  18,  1865. 
Gardner,    Michael,    corporal ;     sergeant, 

March  i,  1865, 
Lampher,  Edgar  R.,   corporal  ;  sergeant, 

July  i,  1864;  ist  sergeant,  April  i,  1865. 
Mitchell,  Diamond  B.,  corporal,  April  27, 

1865, 

Phelps,  Henry  W.,  corporal. 
Payne,  Dighton  L.,  corporal,  May  i,  1865, 
Saltus,  Edward,  corporal  ;  sergeant. 
Sanderson,    Hiram    L.,  corporal,  May    i, 

1865. 

St.  Louis,  Jesse,  wagoner,  July  i,  1864. 
Wheeler,     Henry   B.,   corporal,    July    i, 

1864, 
Wood,  Ephraim,  corporal,  July  i,    1864  j 

sergeant,  May  18,  1865. 
Wright,  Edward  B.,  ist  sergeant,  July  i, 

1864. 
Whitney,    Henry   D.r  corporal,    May    ir 

1865. 


PROMOTION'S. 


279 


COMPANY  G. 

CORPORALS. 

Sargent,  Johnson  B.,  sergeant. 

Lewis,  Leonard  R.,  sergeant,  Nov.  2,  1863.  i 

Loomis,  Charles  A.,  sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Battles,  Charles  W.,  corporal. 
Battles,  Ira,  corporal,  Jan.  I,  1864. 
Bissell,  Lucius  W,  commander  in  Third 

Louisiana    National   Guards,    Jan.    24, 

1863. 

Bement,  James  H,  corporal,  Nov.  I,  1864. 
Coles,  Seymour  N.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Culver,  Seymour,  corporal,  March  i,  1865. 
Eaton,  Daniel  W.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1863; 

sergeant,   July    I,    1864;    ist   sergeant, 

March  i,  1865. 
Flanders,  Thomas    N.,    corporal,  July  i, 

1864;  sergeant,  April  12,  1865. 
Hatch,    John,    corporal,    July    i,    1864  ; 

sergeant,  March  i,  1865. 
Lewis,  David  W.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1863; 
Lyman,  Joel  F.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Ordway,    Charles    H.,  corporal,    Nov.    i, 

1864. 

Plumley,  Wm.  D.,  corporal,  May  23, 1864. 
Pierce,  Chas.  A.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Richards,  George,  corporal,  May  i,  1865. 
Sprague,  Tyler  E.,  corporal,  Jan.  i,  1864  \ 

sergeant,  July  i,  1864. 
Sumner,  Samuel  W.,  corporal ;  sergeant, 

May  23,  1864. 
Titus,  Henry  H.,  corporal,  March  i,  1864; 

sergeant,  Nov.  i,  1864. 

COMPANY    H. 

SERGEANTS. 

Winslow,  L.  I.,  sergeant ;  captain. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,   Jonathan  V.,  corporal ;   sergeant, 

Feb.  28,  1864. 

Aldrich,  Milo  D.,  corporal,  Dec,  8,  1864. 
Barker,  Augustus,  corporal,  Nov.  26, 1863. 
Brimhall,  Fred  F.,  corporal,  June  2,  1865. 


Brown,    Henry    B.,   corporal  ;    sergeant, 

Nov.  22,  1863. 

Brown,  Marion  M.,  corporal,  July  i,  1864. 
Childs,    Samuel    S.,    corporal,    April    12? 

1864. 

Crowley,  Noah  S.,  corporal,  July  r,  1864. 
Davis,  Otis  A.,  corporal,  April  12.  1865. 
Frasa,  Joseph,  corporal,  July  i}  1864. 
Holt,  Lovell  S.,  fifer,  Jan.  i,  1863. 
Howard,    Horace    W.,    corporal,   July   i, 

1864- 
Lee,  Edwin  P.,  corporal,  April  12,  1864  ; 

sergeant,  April  12,  1865. 
Lee,  Alfred  A.,  corporal,  June  2,  1865. 
Merrifield,  Albert  H.,  corporal ;  sergeant, 

July  i,  1864. 
Martin,  Anselm,  principal  musician,  Feb. 

2,  1865. 
Morgan,    Andrew    B.,  corporal,   Feb.    23, 

1865. 
Peck,  Joseph  H.,  corporal,  July  i,   1864; 

sergeant,  April  12,  1865. 
Parsons,  William    H.,   corporal,   June  2, 

1865. 

Perry,  Wm.  W.,  Jr.,  corporal. 
Prouty,  Fred  M.,  musician. 
Puffer,  Henry,  corporal,  June  9,  1864  ;  ser 
geant,  Dec.  8,  1864;   Ist  sergeant,  April 

12,  1865. 
Smith,  Stillman,  lieutenant  2d  Louisiana 

volunteers. 
Steinburg,   John    G.,    corporal,    Feb.   28, 

1864;  sergeant,  July  i,  1864. 
White,  Ira  M.,  corporal. 

COMPANY  I. 

CORPORALS. 

Gregory,  Edward  P.,  sergeant. 

Thorn,  Rufus  C.,  sergeant,  June  8,  1864. 

Lamb,  Lewis  H.,  sergeant. 

PRIVATES. 

Bartlett,  Clarence  A.,  corporal;  sergeant. 
Brown,    Charles     F.,    corporal,    Oct.    11, 

1864. 
Bemis,  Leonard  C.,  corporal. 


280 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


Burrows,  George  P.,  corporal,  March  21, 

1865. 

Black,  James  F.,  corporal. 
Brown,    George    D.,   corporal,    March   3, 

1865. 

Eddy,  George  P.,  corporal. 
Hill,  Herbert  E.,  corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Mills,  Daniel  B.,  corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Kerr,    Alonzo     D.,    corporal,    sergeant ; 

March   21,  1865. 
Sawyer,  Willard  W.,  corporal ;  sergeant, 

Oct.  19,  1864;  quartermaster  sergeant, 

March  2,  1865. 
Smith,    Charles    S.,    corporal;    sergeant, 

July  i,  1864;   ist  sergeant,  May  2,  1865. 
Worden,  Alfred  S.,  corporal. 
Woodman,  John  P.,  corporal,  July  I,  1864. 
Ward,  Austin  H.,  corporal,  Sept.  19,  1864 ; 

sergeant,  May  2,  1865. 

COMPANY   K. 

CORPORALS. 

Oilman,  Geo.  D.,  sergeant. 
Snow,  Chauncey  M.,  sergeant. 


PRIVATES. 

Barron,  Harry  V.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Douglas,  Franklin    B.,   corporal,   July  i, 

1864. 

Drown,  Aaron,  corporal,  Nov.  I,  1864. 
Hart,  William  A.,  corporal,  Nov.  i,  1864. 
Leonard,  Willis  R.,  corporal,  Feb.  6,  1865. 
Parker,  Levi  H.,  corporal;  sergeant,  July 

i,  1864. 

Perham,  Lyman  F.,  corporal. 
Pierce,  Ezra  S.,  corporal. 
Price,  Edward,  corporal,  Feb.  17,  1864. 
Petrie,  William,  musician. 
Roberts,    Perley   P.,  corporal,    April    12, 

1864  ;  sergeant,  May  28,  1865. 
Shores,  Ethan  P.,  corporal,  Nov.  26,  1863; 

sergeant,  July  i,  1864. 
Silsby,  Wm.  H.,  corporal,  Dec.  23,  1863; 

sergeant,  Feb.  6,  1865. 
Simons,  Solon  L.,  corporal;  sergeant,  April 

12,  1864  ;  ist  sergeant,  March  20,  1865. 
Thomas,     Oscar,     corporal,     March     20, 

1865. 
Turbush,    George,   corporal,   March     20, 

1865. 


RECAPITULA  TION.  28 1 


Officers  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment. 

During  the  period  of  its  military  service  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  had  one 
hundred  and  thirty-four  different  commissioned  officers,  including  two  colonels,  five 
lieutenant  colonels,  seven  majors,  three  adjutants,  three  quartermasters,  two  sur 
geons,  four  assistant  surgeons,  two  chaplains,  thirty  captains,  thirty-nine  first  lieuten 
ants,  and  thirty-seven  second  lieutenants. 

It  had  sixteen  non-commissioned  staff  officers,  including  four  sergeant  majors,  four 
quartermaster  sergeants,  four  commissary  sergeants,  three  hospital  stewards,  and 
one  drum  major. 

The  number  of  commissioned  officers  belonging  to  each  company  was  as  follows  : 
Company  A,  nine;  Company  B,  eleven ;  Company  C,  nine  ;  Company  D,  nine  ; 
Company  E,  nine  ;  Company  F,  nine  ;  Company  G,  twelve  ;  Company  H,  twelve  ; 
Company  I,  thirteen  ;  Company  K,  thirteen. 


Battles  and  Skirmishes  in  which   the    Eighth  Vermont 
Regiment  was  engaged. 

The  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  took  part  in  the  following  engagements  : 

Raceland June  22,  1862 

Boutee  Station Sept.  4,  1862 

Bayou  des  Allemands Sept.  4,  1862 

Battle  of  the  Cotton Jan.  14,  1863 

Bisland       April  12,  1863 

Bisland       April  13,  1863 

r  Assault       May  27,  1863 

Port  Hudson*  •<  Night  engagement June  10,  1863 

(Assault       June  14,  1863 

Donaldsonville July  10,  1863 

Opequon  (Winchester) Sept.  19,  1864 

Fisher's  Hill Sept.  22,  1864 

Night  engagement  near  Woodstock Sept.  22,  1864 

Cedar  Creek Oct.  19,  1864 

Newtown Nov.  12,  1864 

To  these  should  be  added  skirmishes  of  more  or  less  importance,  at  New  Market, 
Harrisonburg,  Mount  Jackson,  Summit  Point,  and  many  others. 

The  regiment,  or  some  portion  of  it,  was  under  fire  on  sixty-two  different  days, 
including  battles  and  skirmishes,  when  some  of  the  men  were  either  killed  or 
wounded. 

*The  siege  lasted  forty-four  days,  during  which  the  regiment  was  constantly  under  fire  and  suffered 
daily  casualties. 


N on-Commissioned  Officers  and  Privates 


Who  Died  from  Disease  and  Other  Causes,  except  Casualties  in  Battle. 


COMPANY   A. 

Martin,  Sergt.  Chas.  C  ,  July  18,  1862. 
Whitcomb,  Musician  Lewis,  May  20,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Albee,  Stephen  C.,  May  4,  1865,  from  bad 

treatment  while  prisoner. 
Benson,  Lucius  M.,  July  31,  1862. 
Bickford,  Dennis,  N.  Oct.  6,  1862. 
Buckley,  Chas.  II.,  June  23,  1862. 
Carpenter,  Josiah  U.,  Dec.  2,  1862. 
Chamberlin,  Joseph  W.,  Jan.  ir,  1864. 
Clement,  James  H.,  Jan.  10,  1863. 
Eaton,  Ransom,  May  26,  1863. 
Geer,  Thomas  L.,  Dec.  15,  1864. 
Gale,  Justus  F.,  Sept.  19,  1863. 
Kidder,  Aaron  B.,  June  10,  1864. 
Lathrop,  Julius  M.,  Dec.  31,  1864. 
Marston,  Ira  L.,  Jan.  10,  1863.    , 
Merriam,  John  W.,  Sept.  24,  1863. 
Morse,  Orson,  March  5,  1865. 
Norton,  William,  March  21,  1864. 
Robinson,  Ransom  E.,  July  20,  1862. 

COMPANY    B. 

Lunt,  Corp.  Benjamin  P.,  July  23,  1862. 
Piper,  Corp.  Nathaniel  A.,  Aug.  9,  1863. 
Hill,  Wagoner  James  H.,  shot  by  Private 
O'Mere,  May  14,  1863. 


PRIVATES. 

Allyn,  Paschal  W.,  Dec.  24,  1864. 
Bacon,  Elias,  Oct.  28,  1863. 
Barnard,  Francis  B..  May  22,  1863. 
Bodett,  Peter,  Aug.  7,  1862. 
Berry,  Richard,  May  23,  1864. 
Bombard,  Alonzo  H.,  May  24, 1865. 
Fairbanks,  Freeman  A  ,  March  30,  1864. 
Gray,  Orin,  June  6,  1864. 
Hill,  Titus,  Aug.  17,  1862. 
Horn,  Joseph,  July  9,  1862. 
Lee,  William  S.,  July  3,  1863. 
McCabe,  Hiram,  Sept.  19,  1862. 
McKenzie,    Andrew,  drowned,   June    27, 

1862. 

Parlin,  Abel  A.,  June  13,  1863. 
Stafford,  Isaac  B.,  March  26,  1864. 
Turner,  Chas.  W.,  July  25,  1862. 


COMPANY  C. 

Waldron,  Sergeant  Benjamin,  March  29, 

1865. 

Lynn,  Sergeant  Orange  S.,  June  18,  1863. 
Brill,  Corporal  David  N.,  Aug.  28,  1863. 
Jay,  Corporal    Nathan    P.,   at   Salisbury, 
-    N.  C.  Nov.,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Bailey,  George  W.,  July  22,  1862. 


THE  LIST  OF  DEAD. 


283 


Bebard,  Ezra,  May,  1863. 
Chamberlin,  Benjamin,  Aug.  12,  1864. 
Clark,  Lewis  A.,  Nov  i,  1863. 
Clough,  Joel,  July  23,  1862. 
Derby,  Henry  N.,  March  31,  1864. 
Evans,  Walter  D.,  June  25,  1863. 
Farnham,  Horace  S.,  Sept.  16,  1864. 
George,  Joseph,  July  16,  1864. 
Haskins,  Leonard,  July  21,  1862. 
Hayward,  Oscar  F.,  Nov.  u,  1862. 
Hill,  William,  Aug.  17,  1862. 
Kiser,  Hiram  S.,  date  not  known. 
McGaffey,  Alonzo,  June  3,  1862. 
McColley,  James,  April  15,  1865. 
Noyes,  John  W.,  June  28,  1863. 
Page,  Albert  E.,  May  20,  186^. 
Pettee,  Jacob  L.,  July  6,  1863. 
Prisby,  Hollis  W.,  Aug.  23,  1863. 
Rosebush,  Martin,  July  5,  1863. 


COMPANY  D. 

Woodbury,    Corp.    Chas.  W.,  March  22, 

1863. 
Garland,  Corp.  Edwin  P.,  March  4,  1864 

PRIVATES. 

Avery,  Geo.  W.,  June  28,  1862. 
Allen,  John,  April  14,  1865. 
Avery,  Sylvester  H.,  June  3,  1863. 
Bugbee,  Charles  P.,  Nov.    28,  1862. 
Barber,  Chas.  S.,  Feb.  26,  1865. 
Carpenter,  Edmond,  Nov.  3,  1864. 
Eastman,  Harmon  W.,  April  10,  1863. 
Fay,  James  T.,  Aug.  30,  1864. 
Foot,  Dennis  W.,  Nov.  27,  1862. 
Foster,  Ezekiel,  Dec.  20,  1862. 
Harradan,  Geo.  W.,  died,  1864. 
Johnson,  Eben  E.,  Dec.,  1863. 
Lamb,  Chas.  S.,  April  21,  1862. 
Liscom,  John  E.,  Nov.  24,  1862. 
Meder,  Horace  E.,  March  25,  1863. 
Magaghan,  John,  drowned  May  31,  1864. 
Peabody,  Luther,  killed  by  explosion  of 

ammunition  team,  Nov.  7,  1862. 
Shumway,  Monroe,  Dec.  15,  1862. 
Stevens,  Elbridge  E.,  June  n,  1864. 
Thomas,  Freeling  G.,  Oct.  22,  1864. 


COMPANY  E. 

Maxham,  Corp.  Orrin,  Feb.,  1863. 
Wilson,  Corp.  Francis,  Dec.  5,  1862. 
Maxham,  Wagoner  Oscar,   at    Salisbury, 
N.  C.,  Jan.  25,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Becker,   Gustavus    C.,   prisoner    Sept.   4, 

1862  ;  shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Bailey,  Amos,  June  22,  1862. 
Bellows,  Franklin,  July  20,  1864. 
Bailey,  Samuel  A.,  Sept  23,  1862, 
Bowen,  Dustin,  Jr.,  Dec.  9,  1864. 
Barrett,  Levi,  Oct.  4,  1863. 
Bahne,  Deidrich,  prisoner  Sept.  4,  1862  ; 

shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Corliss,  Stephen,  April  22,  1863. 
Davis,  John,  July  31.  1864. 
Emery,  Ezra  H.,  July  10.  1863. 
French,  David  E.,  Nov.  10,  1862. 
Grant,  Geo.  R.,  killed  on  Vermont  Valley 

Railroad,  June  27,  1865,  while  en  route 

to  Brattleboro  to  be  mustered  out. 
Harding,  John  W.,  March  6,  1865. 
Hills,  Charles  E.  L.,  July  3,  1863. 
Hurst,  Bernard,  prisoner    Sept   4,   1862  ; 

shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Kinson,  Benjamin  H.,  June  18,  1862. 
Keeler,  Frederick  L.,  June  13,  1864. 
Kempton,  Oliver  W.,  April  20,  1864. 
McMurphy,  Julius,  Nov.  16,  1863. 
Morey,  Robert,  Jan.,  1863. 
Mosman,  Michael,  prisoner  Sept.  4,  1862. 

shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Morse,  Luther  W.,  June  19,  1863. 
Newell,  William,  April  4,  1864, 
Larned,  Rollin  E.,  at    Salisbury,    N.    C., 

Nov.  2,  1864. 
Leichleider,  John,  prisoner  Sept.  4,  1862; 

shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Leichleider,    Michael,    prisoner    Sept.    4, 

1862  ;  shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Olden,  Daniel,  Nov.  7,  1864. 
Olden,  George  E.,  May  16,  1864. 
Paul,  Frank,  prisoner  Sept.  4,   1862;  shot 

by  rebels  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Poor,  George  H.,  Sept.  29,  1862. 


284 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


Reed,  Alfred  M.,  Aug.  15,  1862. 
Reed,  Andrew  J.,  Aug.  29,  1863. 
Sabin,  David  P.,  Sept.  26,  1863. 
Shontell,  Frederick,  May  16,  1862. 
Slayton,  Theodore,  April  22,  1863. 
Warren,  Alonzo  S.,  March  19,  1863. 
Webster,  Ephraim,  Nov.  ir,  1862. 
Wheat,  Geo.  F.,  March  14,  1862. 
Wood,  Henry  M.,  Sept.  3,  1862. 
Wood,  William  W.,  July  14,  1863. 
Woodbury,  Asa,  April  27,  1863. 
Walker,  Erastus  A.,  August  29,  1864. 

COMPANY  F. 

Chase,  Sergt.  Bonaparte  J.,  June  30, 

PRIVATES. 

Barnes,  Chester  W.,  July  12,  1863. 
Davis,  John  E.,  Sept.  20,  1864. 
Duling,  John,  March  24,  1865. 
Goddard,  Elisha  A.,  June  26,  1862. 
Goodchild,  John  M.,  June  19,  1863. 
He^chey,  Thomas  H.,  died  at  Salisbury, 

N.  C.,  Jan.,  1865. 
Moshier,  Lewis,  July  28,  1863. 
Meyers,  George,  March  8,  1864. 
Mathews,  Geo.  W.,  May  31,  1864. 
Parker,  Geo.  E.,  May  24,  1864. 
Saul,  Edmond,  June  23,  1862. 
Scribner,  Geo.  W.,  May  2,  1863. 
Taylor,  Henry  W.,  Aug.  27,  1863. 

COMPANY  G. 

Sumner,    Sergt.    Samuel    W.,    August    6, 

1864. 

Lewis,  Sergt.  Leonard  R.,  May  22,  1864. 
Woodbury,   Corp.   Dudley   C.,    Sept.  10, 

1863. 

Walker,  Corp.  George,  April  27,  1862. 
Lewis,  Corp.  David  W.,  July  8,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Arnold,  Benjamin  F.,  at  Salisbury,  N.  C., 

Dec.  29,  1864. 

Atwood,  Irving  H.,  Aug.  12,  1864. 
Blanchard,  Adolphus,  April  12,  1863. 


Brown,  Wm.   II.,  prisoner,  and  shot  by 

enemy,  March  7,  1863. 
Coy,  Charles  C.,  Aug.  22,  1864,  on  board 

U.  S.  steamer,  Mississippi. 
Carmody,  Con  •  July  23,  1863. 
Darling,  Joseph,  June  10,  1864. 
Depathy,  John  F.,  Sept.  4,  1863. 
Depuys,  Antoine,  Oct.  16,  1864. 
Evans,  Lyman  B.,  Sept.  13,  1863. 
George,  Jethro  S.,  April  14,  1864. 
Horton,  Prescott,  died  on  way  to  hospital 

in  Vermont. 

Howard,  Chester  J.,  July  19,  1862. 
Harlow,  Wm.  W.,  April  29,  1864. 
Hoezle,  Louis,  June  28,  1863. 
Honey,  Aman  S.,  March  28,  1864. 
Hull,  Felix  F.,  May  15,1863. 
Kemp,  Langdon,  July  16,  1863. 
Kinney,  Andrew  J.,  July  22,  1863. 
Kean,    Dennis,  shot  by  rebels,  March  7, 

1863,  while  prisoner. 
Montgomery,  Judson  M.,  June  12,  1862. 
Morrill,  John  F.,  Feb.  22,  1865. 
Putnam,  George  P.  Nov.  27,  1864. 
Quimby,  Henry  S.,  Feb.  24,  1863. 
Rotary,  Victory,  June  2,  1862. 
Stevens,  Nathaniel  L.,  April  21,  1864. 
Spear,  Edwin,  June  2,  1862. 
Smith,  George  W.,  May  30,  1864,  at  An- 

dersonville,  Ga. 

Slack,  Charles  D.,  March  15,  1865. 
Titus,  Graham  N.,  August  21,  1862. 
Twilight,  Charles  B.  P.,  July  12,  1863. 
Trask,  Reuben  L.,  April  24,  1864. 
Whitcher,  Alfred,  April  20,  1865. 


COMPANY  H. 

Higgins,  Corp.  Alvin  G ,  Dec.  9,  1863. 
Hilliard,    Corp.    Gilbert     G.,    Sept.     14, 

1863. 
Gale,  Wagoner  Burnell  B.,  Aug.  16,  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Bush,  Alonzo  P.,  Aug.  26,  1862. 
Butler,  Herbert  J.,  July  13,  1864. 
Brown,  Lansford  H.,  May  24,  1865. 


THE    LIST    OF   DEAD. 


285 


Fish,  Walter  W.,  April  25,  1864. 
Hale,  Albert  T.,  July  19,  1862. 
Henry,  James  M.,  Oct.  15,  1862. 
Jackson,  Wills,  June  10,  1864. 
Kilburn,  Nathaniel  A.,  March  u,  1865. 
Lincoln,  Matthias,  April  6,  1864. 
Miller,  Ransom  B.,  Jan.  10,  1863. 
Oaks,  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  Oct.  15,  1862. 
Prouty,  John,  date  unknown. 
Twombly,  Albert  J.,  Jan.  17,  1863. 
Way,  Oscar  H.,  April  8,  1865. 
Wood,  Andrew  J.,  July  27,  1862. 

COMPANY  I. 

Hudson,   Corp.  Bonaparte,  May  24,  1862. 
PRIVATES. 

Arling,  Solomon  S.,  July  23,  1863. 
Bryant,  Joseph  C.,  Sept.  3,  1864. 
Carroll,  Henry  W.,  June  19,  1865. 
Davis,  Eros  L.,  March  18,  1862,  on  ship 

Wallace. 

Dunklee,  Willard  S.,  March  17,  1865. 
Fairbanks,  Wayland  E.,  Jan.  25,  1865 
Gregory,  Stephen,  June  24,  1863. 
Hill,  Elbridge  G.,  June  13,  1863. 
Lamson,  Daniel,  March  10,  1863. 
Phillips,  Hiram  O.,  June  28,  1864. 
Rice,  Orrin  L.,  Aug.  21.  1862. 
Robinson,  Moses  W.,  March  11,  1865. 
Smith,    William,    died    at    New    Orleans, 

date  unknown. 
Tooley,  David  A.,  Aug.  30,  1863. 


Wood,  Lewis  A.,  Aug.  17,  1863. 
Worden,  Francis  N.,  June  23,  1862. 

COMPANY    K. 

Ford,  Corp.  Alonzo  L.;  Sept.  3,  1863. 
Day,  Wagoner  Wesley  H.,  July  12,  1863, 
of  accidental  gunshot  wound. 

PRIVATES. 

Aldrich,  John  H.,  March  18,  1863. 
Ball,  Frederick,  July  25,  1864. 
Bartlett,  Chas.  W.,  Nov.  29,  1862. 
Bates,  George  D.,  Nov.  9,  1862. 
Boyce,  John  W.,  March  i,  1862. 
Buzzell,  Solon  D.,  April  29,  1862. 
Chase,  William  E.,  at  Algiers,  La.,  date 

unknown. 

Cole,  Daniel,  July  6,  1863. 
Croteau,  Joseph,  June  18.  1862. 
Dunton,  Geo.  W.,  Nov.  i,  1863. 
Farnham,  Charles  H.,  Sept.  4,  1862. 
French,  Geo.  W.,  died,  date  unknown. 
Gordon,  John  G.,  July  8,  1863. 
Griffin,  Otis  E.,  Aug.  14,  1863. 
Grow,  Charles  H.,  Aug.  5,  1862. 
Hartwell,  James  S.,  Nov.  5,  1862. 
Hudson,  William  C.,  May  7,  1863. 
Jenkins,  Willis,  July  23,  1862. 
Nutter,  Henry  B.,  April  18,  1865. 
Parker,  Oramel  H.,,  Nov.  6,  1862. 
Silsby,  Charles,  March  27,  1864. 
Thomas,  Lewis,  Oct.  16,  1864. 
Woodruff,  Henry,  July  4,  1863. 


286 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER.* 


FIELD,    STAFF,    AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Colonel,  Stephen  Thomas  .     . 
Li.  Col.,  Edward  M.  Brown   . 
Maj.,  Chas.  Dillingham      .     . 
Surgeon,  Geo.  F.  Gale  .     .     . 

West  Fairlee 
Montpelier  . 
Waterbury  . 
Brattleboro 

Rl 

40 
25 
34 

Nov.     12,  1861. 
Jan.       !».  1862. 
Dec.     24,  1862. 
Dec.     10,1861. 

Jan.  21,  1865. 
Dec.  2o,  1*62. 
Dec.  12,  1863. 
June  24  1862 

Asst.  Xurg..  H.  H.  Gillett  .     . 
A  djt.,  John  L  Barstow      .     . 

Corinth    .    . 
Shelburne    . 

36 

29 

Dec.      10,  1861. 
Feb.      1!).  1X62. 

June  28,  1865. 
June  22  1864. 

Q.  M.,  Fre.lE.  Smith    .     .     . 
Chaplain,  Francis  C.  Williams 

Montpelier  . 
Brattleboro      .     . 

31 
37 

Nov.      23,  1S6I. 
Dec.      20,  1861. 

Nov.  30,  1863. 
June  22,  1864. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Seryt.  Maj.,  Geo.  N.  Carpenter 
Drum  Maj.,  Gershom  H.  Flagg 
Q.  M.  Sert/t.,  J.  Elliott  Smith 
(  'o??i.  Seryt.,  Lewis  Child    .     . 
Hospital  Steioard,  S.  H.  Currier 

Northfield   .    . 
Richmond   .     . 
Montpelier  .    . 
Fairlee    .    .     . 
West  Fairlee   . 

22 
33 
26 
23 
26 

Feb.       1,  1862. 
Dec.       1,  1861. 
Dec.       1,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.     10,  1861. 

July  2,  1864. 
Jan.  5,  1864. 
May  17,  1862. 
Jan.  30,  1865. 
Oct.  20,  1862. 

COMPANY    A,    HYDE    PARK. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

Capt.,  Luman  M.  Grout    .     . 
1st  Lieut.,  Moses  McFarland 
2d  Lieut.,  Gilman  S.  Rand      . 

Elmore     .... 
Waterville  .     .     . 
Mormville  .     .     . 

38 
40 
20 

Nov.     13,  1861. 
Nov.     13,  1861. 
Nov.     13,  1861. 

June  11,  1863. 
June  28,  1865. 
•July  22,  1862. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st,  Lemuel  M.  Hutchinson  . 
Chas  C.  Martin  .... 

Worcester    .    .    . 

24 
21 

22 
29 
22 

20 
19 
23 
19 
23 
23 
20 
24 

Oct.        1,  1861. 
Oct.      23,  1861. 
Oct.      28,  1861. 
Oct.        3,  1861. 
Oct.      19,  1861. 

Sept.    26,  1861. 
Oct.      23,  1861. 
Sept.    24,1861. 
Sept.     26,  1861. 
Sept.     23,  1861. 
Oct.         1,  1861. 
Sept.    26,  1861. 
Sept.     23,1861. 

June  28,  1865. 
*JuIy  18,  1862. 
Nov.  25,  1862. 
Sept.  14,  1863. 
Nov.  25,  1863. 

tOct.  19,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
July  15,  1862. 
Nov.  25,  1862. 
June  28,1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 

Chas.  W.  Blnke     
Harvev  O'Kiser          .     .         . 

Eden   
Plainfield     .    .    . 
Lowell     .... 

Worcester    .     . 
Belvidere     .     . 
Johnson  .    .    . 
Morristown 
Hvde  Park  .     . 
Waterville  .    . 
Wolcott  .     .     . 
Johnson  .    .    . 

Oscar  W.  Goodridge  .... 

CORPORALS. 
Aaron  K.  Cooper  
Henry  Carpenter  .         .    . 

JairusD.  Clark     .... 

Harvey  L  Smith        .     . 

Cornelius  D.  Holbrook  .     .    . 
P'zra  H.  Brown 

Horace  Woods        .         . 

Joseph  Farnum      .         .     . 

*Died  of  disease.        t  Killed  iu  battle. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 


287 


COMPAXV  A.  —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

MUSICIAXS. 
Lewis  Whitcomb                 . 

Hvde  Park 

36 

Sept  2G,  1861. 

*May   20  1864. 

Walter  >V.  Barnes     .... 

WAGONER. 
Norman  Smith                     . 

Hyde  Park  .     .    . 

Wolcott  .    . 

26 
24 

Sept.     23,  1801. 
Sept.    26,  1S61 

March  22,  1864. 
j   June    28,  1865 

PRIVATES. 
Ailes,  Svlvanus  F  
Albee,  Stephen  C  
Beard   Chas  W 

Cambridge  .     .     . 
Elmore    .... 
Johnson                . 

35 
24 
18 

Oct.  3,  1861. 
Sept.  24,  1861. 
Oct  2  1861 

tSept.  4,  1862. 
*May  4,  1865. 
June  28  1865 

Beard,  Curtis  A     
Benson,  Jefferson  T  .     .     .     . 
Benson,  Lucius  M      .... 
Bickfonl,  Dennis  N  .... 
Blake   Orwell             .    .     . 

Waterville  .    .     . 
AVorcester   .     .     . 
Worcester    .    .     . 
Waterbury  .    .     . 
Eden 

42 
18 
20 
18 
25 

Sept.  30,  1861. 
Nov.  6,  1861. 
Nov.  5,  1861. 
Oct.  30,  1861. 
Oct.  16,  1861. 

June  28,1865. 
June  11,1864. 
*JuIy  31,  1862. 
*Oct.  6,  1862. 
Nov.  25,  1862. 

Blood,  Oilman  W  
Boynton,  Chaa.  W      .    .     .     . 

Lowell     .... 
Hvde  Park  .     .     . 
Hyde  Park  . 

19 
18 
41 

Oct.  28,  1861. 
Dec.  24,1861. 
Dec  24  1861. 

June  28,1865. 
March  19,  1864. 
June  22,  1864 

Brown    Fitch  C           .... 

Wolcott       .     .     . 

18 

Nov  14,1861. 

June  11,  1864. 

Brown    Kirk  F 

Waterville  .    . 

19 

Sept.  23,  1861. 

May  5,  1865 

Buckley,  Chas  H       .    . 

Eden  .... 

22 

Sept.  28,1861. 

*June  23,  1862. 

Carpenter,  Jephaniah    .     .     . 
Carpenter,  Josiah  D  .    .     .     . 
Carpenter,  Phineas   .... 
Chamberlin,  Joseph  W 

Waterville  .     .    . 
Waterville  .    .    . 
Belvidere     .    .     . 
Eden            .    .    . 

18 
44 
44 

29 

Dec.  9,  1861. 
Dec.  9,  1861. 
Sept.  24,  1861. 
Sept.  24,  1861. 

June  28,  1865. 
*Dec.  2,  1862. 
Feb.  28,  1863. 
*Jan.  11,  1864. 

Chayer  John  B                   .     . 

Nov.  12  1861. 

June  28  1865. 

Clark,  Carlos  S 

Stowe  .    . 

23 

Nov.  6,  1861 

June  1,  1865 

Clark   Jehial  P              ... 

18 

Sept  24  1861. 

March  12,  1862 

Clark,  Rufus  H      
Clement,  James  H     .     .     .     . 
Cooper  Chas  S 

Elmore    .... 
Morriaville  .    .    . 
Elmore 

19 
19 
18 

Nov.  5,  1861. 
Sept.  24,  1861. 
Sept.  30,  1861. 

Nov.  25,  1862. 
*Jan.  10,  1863. 
June  22,  1864 

Cross  Madison           .    .         . 

18 

Dec  3  1861 

Sept.  20,  1863 

Downey,  Henry  D      .     .    .     . 
Dunham,  Oliver  P     .... 
Eaton,  Ransom  
Farnam,  Barachias    .... 
Fullington,  Chas.  B  .     .    .     . 
Gale,  Justus  F  
George,  John     

Belvidere     .    .    . 
Lowell     .... 
Morristown      .     . 
Craftsbury  .    .     . 
Morrisville  .    .     . 
Elmore    .... 
Worcester 

22 
21 
28 
44 
22 
24 
44 

Dec.  6,  1861. 
Oct.  25,  1861. 
Nov.  14,  1861. 
Oct.  20,  1861. 
Oct.  2,  1861. 
Sept.  23,  1861. 
Sept.  30  1861 

June  28,  1865. 
June  12,  1865. 
*Mav  26,  1863. 
July'  20,1863. 
Nov.  25,  1862. 
*Sept.  19,  1863. 
May  4,  1863 

Hall   John                  .    . 

Stowe           . 

43 

Oct  11  1861 

July  17  1865 

Hays,  Oran  Philander    .     .     . 
Hays,  Oran  Philetus  .... 
Hill,  Seth  C       .    . 

Waterville  .    .     . 
Waterville  .    .    . 
Eden            .     . 

23 
26 
21 

Nov.  21,  1861. 
Oct.  9,  1861. 
Nov.  4,  1861 

Aug.  6,  1863. 
June  28,1865. 
June  28,  1865. 

Hovey,  Rodger  ....... 
Kent,  Mel  v  in  P     .    .     . 

Worcester    .     .     . 
Worcester 

22 
26 

Oct.  1,  1861. 
Sept  26  1861 

June  28,  1865. 
July  20,  1865 

Kimball,  James     

Eden   .         .    . 

44 

Sept  23,  1861 

Aug  18,  1862. 

Kimball,  Joseph  O    .    .     .    . 
Kinsley,  William  W  .     .     .     . 
Kusic,  Richard       .     .         .     . 

Morristown      .     . 
Fletcher  .... 

32 

22 
40 

Dec.  9,  1861. 
Nov.  19,  1861. 
Dec  10  1861 

tMav  27,1863. 
Tr.Vt.R.  corps. 
June  28,  1865 

Lambert  Peter 

Waterville 

22 

Dec  11  1861 

June  28  1865 

Trov    . 

22 

Nov.  13*1861 

June  28,  1865 

Longa  Chas  H      .                   . 

Lowell 

2t 

Nov  4'  1861 

July  15  1862 

Marston,  Ira  L           .         .     . 

Stowe 

18 

Oct  15  1861 

*Jan  10  1863 

McGookin,  Rodney    .... 

Belvidere     .    .    . 
Johnson       . 

36 
35 

Oct.  25,  1861. 
Sept  28  1861 

July  15,  1862. 
Aug  1,  1863. 

Merriam,  John  W     .... 
Morse,  John  O  .    . 

Elmore    .... 
Hyde  Park  . 

24 
18 

Sept.  23,  1X61. 
Oct  21,  1861 

*Sept.  24,  1863. 
June  28  1865. 

Mudgett,  Geo.  E    
Newton,  Henrv  H      .     .    .    . 
Norton,  William    . 

Johnson  .    .     .     . 
Lowell     .    .    .     .     | 

18 
21 
35 

Nov.    24,  1861. 
Oct.      19,  1861. 
Dec      10  1*61 

June  28,1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
*Mar.  21,  1864. 

Page,  Albert  W     .... 
Page,  William  B    

Waterville  .     .     . 

20 
24 

Sept.  26,  1861. 
Nov  6  1861 

June  28,  1*65. 
June  28,  1865. 

Remick,  George 

36 

Sept  27  1861 

Feb  21,  1865. 

Robinson.  Ransom  E      .     . 
Rollins,  William    .    •    .    .    . 

Lowell     .... 
Morristown  .    .     . 

22 
27 

Dec.'    2l!  I86l! 
Nov      25,  1861. 

*July  20,1862. 
March  22,  1862. 

*Died  of  disease. 


t  Killed  in  battle. 


288 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT, 


COMPANY    A. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

I 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Russell,  Chas.  F    
Sanborn  Chas.  B  .    .    .    . 

Stowe  
Lowell          .    .    . 

21 

<>o 

Oct.        1,1861. 
Oct       25,  1861 

Nov.    25,  1862. 
tJune  13  1864 

Highgate 

Nov      16   1861 

tMay  $7   1863 

Shattuck,  Chauncy    .... 
Shattuck   Jerre         . 

Waterville  .    .    . 

30 
44 

Oct.      24,  1861. 
Oct.      21    1861 

June    28J1865! 
July     15   1862 

Silver,  Alonzo                 .         . 

Morristown           . 

42 

Oct.      29,  1861 

tSept     5  1862 

Smith,  Calvin  W.  H  .     .    .     . 
Smith   Wru  H 

Morristowu      .     . 

24 

Nov.     14,  1861. 
Oct       30   1861 

Feb.     21,  1863. 
June    °8  1865 

Stratton,  Hiram  A    .     •     .     . 
Stowe    Albert  A 

Johnson  .... 

18 
19 

Oct.      28,  1861. 
Nov      13   1861 

June    28,  1865. 
July       7   1865 

Tillotson,  Nathaniel  .... 
Tillotson,  Nathaniel,  2d     .     . 
Tobin    AlfredL 

Lowell     .... 
Waterville  .    .    . 
Waterville 

44 

28 
18 

Oct.       19,  1861. 
Oct.        1,  1861. 
Dec        9  1861 

March  29,'  1864.' 
IJune  13,  1864. 
June    °8   1865 

Tobin'  Michael  B  
Wells,  Marshall  W    .    .     .     . 
VVescum    Henry    .    .         .     . 

Waterville  .     .     . 
Waterville  .     .     . 
Montgomery    . 

20 
19 
23 

Oct.        2,  1861. 
Sept.    30,  1861. 
Oct       25   1861 

Sept     14*.  1*63! 
§Sept.  20,  1861. 
July    15   1869 

Weseuru    Mitchell     .... 

Eden  . 

29 

Nov       2   1861 

June    28  1865. 

Wesoonib   Charles               . 

Eden  . 

19 

Oct       30   1861 

June   98   1865 

Wescomb,  Joseph      .... 
Westover,  Win.  G      .... 
Whittemore  Carshena  K  . 

Eden  
Morristown      .     . 
Eden 

21 
24 

18 

Oct.      30,  1861. 
Nov.     14,  1861. 
Nov        6   1861 

June    28,  1865. 
Nov.     25,  1862. 
June   22   1864 

Whittemore,  Lawson     .    .     . 
Willey,  Martin  C   . 

Eden  
Waterville 

19 
21 

Novl      4,  1861  1 
Sept     23  1861 

tSept.  19,  1864. 
June   28  1865 

Wood,  Chas.  G       

Richford  .... 

21 

Oct.      30  1861. 

Feb.     17',  1863 

RECRUITS. 
Albee,  William  A  

Total  

101 
22 

Aug      11   1864. 

June      1,  1865. 

Beckley  Geo  I              .         , 

26 

Dec        3  1863 

July     24,  1865 

21 

Feb       11   1865 

June    ''8  1865 

Beedle  Chas  C     .    .    . 

18 

Feb      18  1865 

June    28   1865 

Bracket   Aurick  S 

18 

Feb      19  1865 

June    28   1865 

Bucklin   Mason  C 

19 

Feb.     11   1865 

June    28,  1865 

Bucklin,  Milo    

20 

Feb.     14,  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 

28 

Jan        5  1864 

May      6   1865 

Bush   Napoleon  B      .     . 

27 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28   1865 

18 

Dec      11    1863 

June    28   1865 

Carty  Michael           .    .         . 

19 

Sept     21    1864 

July       1   1865 

27 

Nov       1    1863 

June    °8  1865. 

Chambers  Chas  H 

18 

Aug      15   1864 

June    I9  1865 

23 

Dec      18  1864 

June       '  1865 

20 

Aug       8   1864 

June   28  1865 

°7 

Dec        5  1864 

June   28,  1866. 

Elliot   Warner  C 

21 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28    1865 

Estes  '  Geo  R    .                      ! 

18 

Dec      19   1864 

June    28,  1865* 

20 

Dec      19  1863 

||Oct      19   1864 

28 

Sept     13  1864 

June      1  1865 

Fisher  Alfred  B    .         . 

32 

Dec  '      3*  1863 

June    29   1865 

42 

Jan        1   1864 

June    °8   1865 

Geer  Thomas  L              .         . 

36 

Aug      12*  1864 

*Dec     15    1864 

Gould   Edwin 

; 

22 

Feb      23  1865 

June    28  1865 

Hayes  Edgar 

18 

Aug       5   1864 

June      1    1865 

Hendee    Beni  F 

26 

Dec        9  1863 

June   28   1865 

Holden  '  Geo.  H          '. 

18 

Feb       10  1865 

June    28   1865 

Hooker  Edward  T 

26 

Dec        7   1863 

June   98  1865 

Hurley  Michael 

Dec      26   1863 

June   28   1865 

27 

Dec       11   1863 

June    28   1865 

40 

Nov     28    1863 

*June  10  1864 

King  Edward  . 

23 

Dec        6  1862 

$Dec.   24  1862 

25 

Jan        5  1864 

*Dec    31   1864 

Lawrence  Seth 

23 

Dec.     25   1863. 

June    28   186.5. 

36 

Feb      13   1865 

June   28,  186") 

41 

Feb        7  1865 

June   28  1865 

Mitchell   Zeb 

45 

Dec      10  1863 

May      6,  1865 

Mix  DeEstaing  S 

19 

Dec      12  1863 

June    28   1865 

Mix'  Victor  B 

18 

Dec      22  1863 

Juno   2^   1865 

*Died  of  disease,    t Killed  in  battle.    ^Deserted.    §Died  of  wounds.    |]  Killed  at  Cedar  Creek. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 


289 


COMPANY  A. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Morse  Orson          . 

44 

39 
20 
34 
24 
34 
18 
20 
28 
26 
38 
24 
33 
10 
21 
34 
18 

Jan.  5,  1864. 
Dec.  21,  1863. 
Dec.  28,  1863. 
Dec.  19,  1863. 
Aug.  19,  1864. 
Feb.  13,  1865. 
Aug.  15,  1864. 
March  17,  1865. 
Nov.  24,  1863. 
Dec.  31,  1863. 
March  17,  1865. 
Feb.  10,  1865. 
Dec.  11,  1863. 
Dec.  28,  1863. 
Jan.  5,  1864. 
May  27,  1862. 
Dec.  19,  1863. 

*March5,  1865. 
JApr.  23,  1865. 
June  28,1865. 
May  6,  1  865. 
June  28,1865. 
June  28,1865. 
May  13,  1865. 
$May  18,1865. 
$Aug.  8,1864. 
tJuly  14,1864. 
tMay  18,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
July  7,  1865. 
Jan.  2,  1866. 
June  28,  1865. 

Palmer,  William  H    .     .     .     . 
Prince.  Daniel   
Randall,  Elisha  N     .... 
Russell,  Lorenzo    
Shepard,  Aliston  E    .... 
Smith   Weston 

Snelling  Geo  W 

Snelling  Asa  E               . 

Stuart,  Luther  
Van  Guilder,  Frederic  .    .    . 
Waldron,  Daniel  G    .    .     . 
Welch,  Richard     
Wells  John  H 

. 

Wenshualer,  Vincent     .    .    . 
Whitcomb,  Erwin  T  .    .     .     . 

Total  
Aggregate   .    .    . 

56 
157 

COMPANY    B,    DERBY    LINE. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,Gb&a.  B.  Child     .     .    . 
1st  Lieut.,  Stephen  F.  Spalding 
2d  Lieut.,  Fred  D.  Butterneld 

Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby     .... 

35 

22 
23 

Dec.      19,  1861. 
Dec.     19,  1861. 
Dec.      19,  1861. 

Oct.  21,  1863. 
||June  14,  1863. 
July  22,  1864. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st,  John  Bisbee    
Wm.  H.  Spencer   
Geo.  Collier  

Derby     .... 
Derby     .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 

Charleston  .    .     . 
Holland  .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Holland  .... 
Derby     .... 

Derby      .... 
Albany    .... 

Derby      .... 

Derby      .... 
Hatlt>y,  Ca  .     .    . 
Calais  .    .    . 

25 
32 
25 
22 
25 

20 
22 
20 
26 
24 
24 
20 
23 

57 
20 

25 

43 
19 
21 
19 
19 
18 
19 

Nov.    22,1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Nov.    21,1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Nov.     22,  1861. 

Dec.       2.  1861. 
Nov.    22,  1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Nov.     28,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 

Nov.     26,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1SG1 

Dec.     14,  :861. 

Nov.    26,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     31,  1861. 
Jan.       6,  1862. 
Dec.       3,  1861. 
Nov.    22,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 

June  28,  1865. 
March  9,  1865. 
June  22,1864. 
«IFeb.  17,  1863. 
Aug.  12,  1862. 

*July  23,  1862. 
Jan.  8,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 
11  Aug.  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
J  March  7,  1862. 
*Aug.  9,  1863. 
June  22.1864. 

«TJuly  12,  1863. 
J  uiie  22,  1864. 

IMay  14,  1863. 

Sept.  29,  1863. 
*Oct.  28,  1863. 
t  June  14,  1863. 
§.Fune28,  1865. 
*May  22,  1863. 
$May  18,  1864. 
June  22,1864. 

James  A.  Mathews   .... 
Hiram  Moon,  Jr            .    .    . 

CORPORALS. 
Benjamin  B.  Lunt     .... 
Moses  W.  Farr  ...         . 

Henry  H  Holt 

AsaB  Moran    ...         .     . 

Chas.  E.  Musk  
Nathaniel  A.  Piper    .... 
Chas.  P.  Church    

MUSICIANS. 
Isaac  Blake   
Oramel  H.  Putnam    .... 

WAGONER. 
Jas.  H.  Hill  

PRIVATES. 
Aldrich,  Elisha     
Bacon,  Elias.                  . 

Bancroft,  Horace  D  .    .     .     . 
Barabv,  Joseph     .     .              . 

Burlington  .     .     . 
Charleston  .    .    . 
Stanstead,  Ca  .    . 
Barnaton,  Ca  .    . 

Barnard,  Francis  B  .... 
Barnes,  Carlos  J 

Uarnes,  Geo.  W     .     .    .    . 

*Died  of  disease.     tKilled  in  battle,  t  Deserted.    §  Wounded  in  head  at  Port  Hudson  June  14, 
1863.    yKilled  at  Port  Hudson.    ^Discharged  for  promotion.     IShot  by  Private  John  O'Mere. 

19 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


COMPANY  B.  —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Barrett,  Chas.  S    
Batley  Robert 

Derby      .... 
Sherbrooke,  Ca    . 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Salem      .... 
Holland  .... 
Derby      .... 
Holland  .... 
Derby      .... 
Charleston  .     .     . 
Derby      .... 

Morgan   .... 
Charleston  .     .     . 
Morgan    .... 
Derby      .... 
Newport  .... 
Holland  .... 
Derby      .... 
Salem      .... 
Augusta,  Maine  . 
Coventry     .    .     . 
Barnston,  Ca  .     . 
Barnston,  Ca  .    . 
New  Orleans,  La 
Derby      .... 
Charleston  .     .     . 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Sherbrooke,  Ca    . 
Derby      .... 
Barnston,  Ca  .     . 
Holland  .... 
Holland  .... 

Orford.Ca   .     .     . 
Barnston,  Ca  .     . 
Salem      .... 
Holland  .... 
Albany    .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Stanstead,  Ca  .     . 
Derby      .... 
Wick'ham,  Ca  .     . 
Derby      .... 
Holland   .... 
Holland 

20 
25 
28 
18 
1!) 
33 
18 
22 
25 
23 
24 
28 
19 
20 
35 
18 
20 
23 
19 
24 
20 
20 
22 
20 
18 
25 
27 
44 
19 
26 
18 
22 
19 
20 
21 
23 
25 
19 
26 
19 
21 
38 
28 
24 
20 
23 
18 
30 
18 
24 
24 
35 
34 
39 
27 
26 
32 
26 
25 
31 
19 
24 
27 
44  ' 
18 
21 

Nov.    30,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Jan.     10,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Dec.       9,1861. 
Nov.    22,  1861. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.       9,1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.     29,  1861. 
Feb.       1,  1862. 
Dec.       5,  1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Dec.     14,1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Nov.     28,  1861. 
Nov.     25,  1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Dec.     21,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Jan.     14,  1862. 
Jan.     20,  1862. 
Nov.     26,  1861. 
Dec.       5,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Nov.     23,  1861. 
Nov.     26,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
Dec.      16,  1861. 
Jan.       6,  1862. 
Jan.     27,  1862. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.       3,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Jan.     27,  1862. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     18,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Nov.     22,1861. 
Nov.    25,  1861. 
Dec.   v  30,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.     27,  1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Jan,       8,  1862. 
Nov.     22,  1861. 
Dec.     30,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 

June   28,  1865. 
Feb.     10,  1863. 
June   22,  1864. 
§Oct.    10,  1864. 
Tr.  Inv.  corps. 
June   22,  1864. 
*Aug.    7,  1862. 
May     18,  1865. 
t  June  14,  1S63. 
Not  known. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
JMay   18,1864. 
jMay    18,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
May     30,  1865. 
lAprillO,  1864. 
||  June  14,  1863. 
June    22,1864. 
June   22,  1864. 
Aug.      5,  1863. 
Dec.     28,  1863. 
JMay  18,  1864. 
Aug.     12,  1862. 
Aug.      5,  1863. 
$Dec.    21,  1862. 
Aug.     12,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
tMarch  1,  1862. 
June   28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
*Aug.  17,  1862. 
*July    9,  1862. 
||  June  20,  1863. 
June    22,1864. 
June  22,  186-4.' 
jMay  18,  1864. 
June    22,1864. 
June   22,  1864. 
||  June  14,  1863. 
June   28,  1865. 
June   27,1863. 
IMar.  15,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
*Sept.  19,  1862. 
$May         1864. 
2  June  27,  1864. 
June    22,1864. 
No  record. 
June   22,1864. 
Feb.     17,  1863. 
March  9,1863. 
jMay  14,  1863. 
June   22,1864. 
*  June  13,  1863. 
June   22,1864. 
June   28,  1865. 
June    14,1863. 
June   28,  1865. 
jMay  18,  186-t. 
June    22,1864. 
IFeb.   27,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
t  March  7,  1862. 

Bavenean,  Lucius     .    .    .    .' 
Belville  Edward             .    .     . 

Belville  Joseph 

Blake   Lewis  O  . 

Bodett  Peter 

Brooks,  Orville  11  
Brown,  Geo.  W     
Brown,  Samuel  B      .     .     .     . 
Carpenter,  Edward  L    .     .     . 
Cass  Hollis  H   .                   .     . 

Clair    John 

Cowing,  Emerson  D  .     .     .     . 
Cunningham,  Wm     .... 

Farewell,  Jason  C     .    .    .    . 
Ferrin   Chester  M                     . 

Foss  Henry  M       

Fox  John                    .          . 

Gould,  Ernest   
Gould,  Henry    .'.... 
Graves,  Henry  

Hadlock  James    .    . 

Haley  John      .         . 

Halladay,  WilbertE.     .     .     . 
Hark  ness,  Richard     .... 
Henry  Wm  H 

Hill   Titus     

Horn   Samuel  O 

House,  Chas  D     .    . 

Howes  Jas  H 

Kenney,  Alfred  J  
La  Bonta  Alfred  . 

Lee,  Wm.  S  

Livingston.  Wheaton,  Jr   .    . 
Lunt,  Aaron  li  
Lunt,  AsaB  

McGee,  Thomas     
McKenzie,  Andrew   .... 
McKiver,  Andrew      .... 
Mosher,  Levi     
Moon,  Elish  D  
Mooney,  Edward  D    .     .     .    . 

Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Derby      .... 
Charleston  .    .    . 
StansttMd,  Ca  .     . 
Charleston  .     .     . 
Troy 

O'Mere  John    . 

Page  Thomas  W 

Parlin   Abel  A       ... 

Parsons,  Walter  W    .    .     .     . 
Patrick,  Franklin  
Pettengill.  Hollis  F  .     .     .     . 
Porter  William     .              .     . 

Robinson,  John  R  
Sheldon,  Minor  L  

Holland  .... 
Derby      .... 
Holland  .... 
Newport  .... 

Smith,  James    
Smith,  John  C        

Stephens,  Francis  W     .    .     . 

*Died  of  disease.    tKilled  in  battle.     ^Deserted.     §  Died  of  wounds  received  Sept.  19,  1864. 
UKilled  at  Port  Hudson.    IT  Discharged  for  promotion.     ITransferred.    2Drowned. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 


291 


COMPANY  B. —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Hatley,  Ca 

19 

Dec.       2,1861 

June    28,  1865. 

Tinker.  William  A    .... 
Tucker,  John  B     
Turner,  Abel  D     
Turner  Chas.  W            ... 

Whitingham    .     . 
Oribrd,  Ca  .     .     . 
Troy    .         .    . 

22 
23 
44 
19 

Nov.     21,  1861. 
Dec.     30,  1861. 
Dec.     14,1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 

Aug.    17,  1863. 
No  date. 
June    22,  1864. 
*July   25,  1862. 

Warren,  Geo.  J     
Warren,  Myron  P      .... 
Wtwhbuin,  Harvey  D   .    .    . 
Wells,  Alfred         

Stanstead,  Ca  .     . 
Charleston  .    .     . 
Hatley,  Ca  .     .     . 
Derby      .... 

18 
18 
18 
22 

Dec.     18,  1861. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
J'ec.       9,1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 

JMay   17,  1865. 
§Nov.  11,1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 

Wheeler,  Chas  
Woodward,  Wm.  F    .     .     .     . 

Holland  .... 
Holland  .... 

20 
29 

Jan.     20,  1862. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 
Oct.       19,  1862. 

RECRUITS. 
Allyn,  Paschal  W       .     . 

Total   .... 

• 

103 

18 

Nov      11   1863 

*Dec    24,  1864. 

Atherton,  John            .... 

31 

Dec      26,  1863. 

May     24,  1865. 

Aldrich   Chas   W 

19 

March  20   1865 

June    28,  1865. 

21 

Jan      24  1865 

June    28   1865. 

Baker    Silas       .     . 

20 

Dec      21    1863 

||  Feb.    21,1865. 

Bartlett,  John  11        .... 

18 

Feb      10,  1865. 

May     18,  1865. 

Bates  Geo  C 

23 

March  1   1862. 

Sept     19  1863. 

Berry,  Richard       .         ... 

39 

Dec        9,  1863. 

*May   23,  1864. 

Bigelow  Jas   S               .     . 

24 

Jan        2   1864 

•fOct     19   1864. 

00 

Dec      °6  1863 

tOct     19   1864 

25 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28  1865 

Bombard  Alonzo  H  . 

26 

March  18,  1865. 

*May  24,  1865. 

10 

Jan      26  1864 

July      7.  1865. 

Briggs,  Eli  S      .     . 

24 

Dec.     29,  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 

Burt  Marshall  J 

21 

Feb      11    1865 

June    28  1865. 

Burton   John  C          ... 

18 

Feb        7,  1865. 

June   28,  1865. 

22 

Feb      21    1865 

June    28,  1865 

Carpenter,  Isaac         .         . 

39 

Feb      17,  1865 

June    14,  1865. 

Carpenter  Jedediah 

18 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28  1865. 

Carr,  John    
Clark  Stephen  E 



23 
23 

Feb.     11,  1865. 
March  21   1865 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28  1865 

Clark,  'Thomas  
Cook  Chas  P 

43 
19 

Dec.      23,  1863. 
Feb      28  1865 

June    28,1865. 
June    28  1865 

Grossman   Lowell  M 

18 

Feb       14,  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

2'} 

Dec      23  1863 

June    98  1865 

Derby'  Wm    R 

18 

Aug      23*,  1864 

June     1,1865. 

21 

March  21    1865 

June    28   1865 

21 

Feb      21    1865 

June   28   1865 

Fadden   Wm    J 

20 

Dec      23  1863 

tOet      1'»   1864 

Fairbanks  Freeman  A  . 

21 

Jan        5,  1864 

*Mar.  30  1864. 

Fecette  Frank 

23 

March  7  1865 

July     15,  1865. 

Fleming  John  . 

21 

Feb      28   1865. 

June    28  1F65. 

18 

Feb      28   1865 

June    28   1865. 

Foster  Harvey. 

18 

Feb       15   1865 

June    28,  1865. 

French   Elisha 

44 

Dec      2<1   1863 

June    12   1865. 

Gladden   Willard  S 

27 

Dec      20  1863 

June    °8   1865 

Gonchchoe,  Francis  E 

20 

March  21   18(>5 

June    28   1865 

Gray,  Aaron  H       

26 

Dec        9  1863 

June   28   1865. 

Gray,  Orin 

36 

Dec      20   1  863 

*June    6,  1864 

Green   Tyler  M              * 

44 

March  10   1865 

June   28   1865 

Griffin,  Geo  E 

33 

July     29   1862 

June    11    1865. 

20 

Sept       8   186'* 

June    24   1865 

Hill,  Stephen     
Judd  Chas  A 

18 
31 

Feb.      16,  1865. 
Feb      16  1865 

June   28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865 

Kenyon,  Henry  R      .     .     .     . 
Kenyon  Orlin  J 

20 
21 

Feb.     14,  1865. 
Feb      14   1865 

June   28,  1865. 
June    28  1865 

32 

Feb      11    1865 

May     ll>   1865 

Lambert.  Michael 

25 

Dec        7   1863 

May     15    1865 

26 

March.  8  1865 

June    98*  1865 

Liberty,  Thomas    . 

27 

Feb      22  1865 

June    28   1865 

Mack  John 

26 

Feb      2"*  1865 

June    28   180  > 

*Died  of  disease.     tKilled  in  battle.    $Sent  to  Clinton  Prison.     §Died  of  wounds  received 
Oct.  19,  1864.     [[Transferred. 


2Q2 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


COMPANY  B. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

• 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Martin,  Nelson  
McAulifte,  John    
Miner  Joseph 

18 
22 
19 
20 
21 
21 
18 
27 
25 
19 
27 
21 
18 
23» 
19 
20 
37 
18 
27 
21 
22 
19 
19 
19 
41 
35 

Feb.     18,  1865. 
March  1,  1865. 
May     11,1864. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Dec.       7,  1863. 
April   11,  1865. 
Feb.      13,  1865 
March  7,  1865. 
March  18,  1865. 
Feb.     11,  1865. 
Feb.     11,1865. 
Jan.     24,  1865. 
Dec.     23,  1863. 
Dec.     26,  1863. 
Dec.     14,  1863. 
March  7,  1865. 
Jan.       1,  1864. 
March   8,  1865. 
Dec.     19,  1863. 
Feb.     15,  1865. 
Feb.     17,  1865. 
Feb.       8,  1865. 
Feb.     10,  1  65. 
Feb.     16,  1*65. 
Dec.     29,  1863. 
Dec.     15,  1863. 

June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
tDec.  27,1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  186T>. 
June  28,  1865. 
July  15,  1865. 
J  une  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
*Mar.  26,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
Aug.  2,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
May  23,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,1865. 
June  28,1865. 

Murphy,  David     
Murphy,  Patrick   .   '.     .     .     . 
Paul  Jason  B  . 

Pallady,  John  

Place,  Emerson  It     .... 
Place  Rufus  A 

Reed  Winslow  T 

Rice  Daniel  M 

Stafford  Isaac  B 

Staples,  Frank  C  
Streeter,  Joseph  J     .    .     .     . 
Thompson,  Payson  T     .     .     . 
Tilley  David  O 

West  'E/ekiel 

Wheelock,  Frank  .... 
Willard,  Lucius  H     .     .     .     . 

. 

Total    
Aggregate    .    ,    . 

77 
180 

COMPANY    C,    ST.    JOHNSBURY. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Ca.pt.,  Henry  E.  Foster      .    . 
\stLwut.,  Edward  B.  Wright 
'2d  Lieut    Frederick  J  Fuller 

Waitsfield    .    .    . 
Bradford      .    .     . 
Trov 

20 
30 

Dec.     23,  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1*61. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 

jAug.  15,  1863. 
JJune    6.  1862. 
§June   2,  1863. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st.,  Albert  E.  Page  . 
Benjamin  Waldron  . 
Henry  C.  Abbott   ... 
Sumner  W.  Lewis 
Augustine  P.  Hawley 

CORPORALS. 

Newbury     . 
Newbury     . 
Montpelier  . 
West  Concord 
Passumpsic 

St  Johnsbury 

21 
44 
30 
32 

26 

21 

Dec.      4,1861. 
Nov.    26,  1861. 
Nov.     19,1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Nov.    27,  1861. 

Nov.    30,  1861. 

Aug.     11,  1863. 
*Mar.  29,  1863. 
Sept.      1,1862. 
Sept.    16,  1863. 
Sept.    27,  1863. 

June   22,  1864. 

John  A    Riplev 

St  Johnsbury     . 

25 

Nov.    30,1861. 

June    28,  1865. 

Eben  C  Goodell    .         ... 

Barnett  .... 

22 

Nov.     28,1861. 

July     16,  1862. 

Lewis  R  Titus 

Jay      

25 

Nov.     28,  1*61. 

Feb.      28,  1863. 

Orange  S  Lynn     

St.  Johnsbury 

19 

Dec.       2,  1861. 

*  June  18,  1863. 

William  K.  Crosby    .... 
Elijah  K  Prouty   

Waterford  .    .     . 
Newbury     .    .     . 

21 
26 

Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     13,  1861. 

Aug.           1862. 
Oct.        1,  1862. 

David  N  Brill  

Troy    

44 

Dec        4,  1861. 

*Aug.  28,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

St.  Johnsbury 

25 

Dec.       4,  1861. 

June   28,1865. 

Parker  J.  Noyes    

Newbury     .    .     . 

20 

Dec.       4,  1»61. 

Oct.      17,  1863. 

*Died  of  disease.        tDeserted.        ^Resigned.        §Dismissed. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER, 
COMPANY   C. —  Continued. 


293 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

WAGONER. 
William  D.  Atwood  .... 

PRIVATKS. 
Adams,  John     ...... 
Adams,  Newell  H.  H     ... 
Aniiis,  Nathaniel  E    .     .     .     . 
Bailey  Geo  E                 ... 

Newbury     .     .    . 

Danville      .    .    . 
Newport      .    .    . 
Passumpsic      .     . 
Troy    

41 

18 
20 
19 
18 

Dec.     11,1861. 

Dec.     21,  1861. 
Dec.      8,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec      10  1861 

Bailey'  Geo    W                       . 

Troy 

24 

Dec      14  1861 

Bailey  Joseph  S    .             . 

Troy    

29 

Dec"      4'  1861 

Richmond    . 

20 

Nov     20  1861 

Waterford  .    .     . 

30 

Dec      14   1861 

Bedard  Ezra 

Danville  .    .    . 

20 

Dec      14   1861 

Bonnet  t  Jas    K.         •         .     . 

Waterford  .    .     . 

18 

Dec      16  1861 

Boodry,  Cbas     
Boodry  C'ha*.  D 

Richmond    .    .     . 
Richmond    .    . 

18 
39 

Nov.    26,  1861. 
Nov     22   1861 

Richmond    . 

20 

Dec  '      1   1861 

Chamberlin,  Lawrence  K  .    . 

Passumpsic      .     . 
Troy    .     .     . 

21 

24 

Nov.    28,1861. 
Dec        4  1861 

18 

Jan      12  1862 

Jay 

20 

Nov     28   1861 

Clough    Judson          .... 

Williamstown 

24 

Nov      19   1861 

20 

Dec        7   1861 

Crane  Henry  A         .... 

Danville  .... 

22 

Nov     16  1861 

Cushman,  Francis  C  .     .     .     . 

St.  Johnsbury 
Newbury     .    . 

18 
18 

Dec.      5,  1861. 
Dec.     16  1861 

Dean,  Asahel  M.  F    .     .     .     . 

St.  Johnsbury 
Troy    .    .         .     . 

22 
24 

Dec        4,  186l'. 
Nov     28   1861 

St.  Johnsbury 

25 

Dec        4   1861 

Eaton,  Charles  
Elkins   Riley  A      .    . 

Richmond   .    .     . 
Troy    

18 
23 

Nov.    20,  1861. 
Dec      18   1861 

Weils  River     .    . 

18 

Nov.    22,  1861 

Goodell  Geo   C     .    .         .    . 

Barnet    . 

26 

Nov     28  1861 

George  'David  N" 

Troy             .     . 

28 

Dec        2  1  86  1 

Hadlock,  Geo.  W  

Jay      

St.  Johnsbury 

18 
24 

Dec.     10,  1861. 
Dec      11,  1861. 

Hammond  Orange  E 

Troy         .... 

18 

]»ec        2  1861 

St.  Johnsbury 

22 

Dec.     14  1861. 

Hardy  Chas   E 

Trov    . 

18 

Dec        4  1861 

Haaelton  Geo.  H  

18 

March  5   1862. 

Haskins  Leonard 

Richmond 

21 

Nov      21    1861 

Hayward,  Oscar  F     .... 
Herriman.  Turrill  E  .    .     .     . 
Hill    William 

St.  Johnsbury      . 
St.  Johnsbury 
Troy    . 

19 
18 
21 

Dec.      5,  18G1. 
Dec.     31,  1861. 
Dec      18  1861 

Hou'ghton,  Silas    
Hubbard,  James  
Hyn   Walter  J  .     . 

Danville  .... 
Burke      .... 

18 
34 
44 

Dec!       2',  1861. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec        6  1861 

«Iay  'Nathan  P       .    . 

St.  Johnsbury 

23 

Dec        6  1861 

Jones    Wm.  H 

Wheelock    .    . 

25 

Dec        4   1861 

Trov    .     . 

31 

Nov     29   1861 

Newbury 

36 

Nov     27  1861 

Kennedy  Hoiace  W 

Troy    .    . 

19 

Jan      28  186° 

Kiser  Hiram  S     

Albany    .... 

34 

Dec      24   1861 

St.  Johnsbury 

19 

Dec      31    1861 

Troy                  . 

20 

Nov      28   1861 

Leavitt,  Nehemiah    .... 
Marchand  Felix 

Warren   .... 

21 
26 

Nov.'    21  \  1861  ! 
Jan        1    186° 

McFarland,  Wm.  H  .     .    .     . 

St  .  Johnsbury     . 

20 
35 

Feb.     14,  1862. 
Jan      28   1  862 

McNab  Carlos  

Mclndoe's  Falls 

18 

Dec      26  1861 

Miller  John 

Troy    . 

19 

Nov     29   1>>61 

Montret,  Adolphe  
Morse,  Robt.  C       ... 

Richmond    .     .     . 
Barnet    .     .     . 

18 
18 

Dec.       6,  1861. 
Dec      14  1.-61 

Newman,  Chas.  A     .... 

Barnet     .... 
Newbury 

18 
26 

Dec.     14,  1*61. 
Dec        1   is  61 

Noyes  John  W     . 

Columbia  N  H 

23 

Dec      26   IsCl 

Date  of 
Discharge. 


June    22,1864. 


*July     1,  1864. 

t 

July  16,  1862. 
Feb.  28,  1863. 
JJuly  22,1862. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  28,1865. 
June  22,1864. 
tMay  1863. 
June  28,  1865. 
§May  1H,  1864. 
||Oct.  1,  1864. 
§May  18,1864. 
Aug.  1862. 

f Sept.  4,  1862. 
$Nov.  1,  1863. 
JJuly  23, 11-62. 
June  22,1864. 
Uune  22,  1864. 
June  22,1864. 
June  28,1865. 
June  28, 1865. 
June  22,1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  22,  1864. 
J  June  25,  1863. 
June  22,  1864. 
2May  27,  1863. 
June  22,  1864. 
July  16,  1862. 
July  16,  1862. 
July  16,  1862. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
JJuly  21, 1862. 
jNov.  11,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 
JAug.  17,  1862. 
July  16,  1862. 
June  22,  1864. 
§Mar.  11,  1862. 
3Nov.  1864. 
June  22, 1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
2June  14,  1863. 
*Feb.  28,  1863. 
$Date  not  rec. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
Sept.  4,  1863. 
2June  17,  1863. 
4June  22, 1864. 
JJune  3,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
5  Mar.  24,  1864. 
5Dec.  31,  1862. 
t  June  28,  1863. 


*Promoted  ;  date  of  discharge  not  given.  tMustered  out  at  Bratlleboro,  Vt.  $  Died  of 
disease.  §Deserted.  HSick  in  General  Hospital.  ^Killed  in  battle.  ISick  in  New  Orleans. 
2Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  SDied  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  4Sick  in  Canada.  5Transferred. 


294 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 


COMPANY   C. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discnarge. 

Troy    .... 

24 

Dec.     16   1861. 

June    22  1864 

Potwin,  Napoleon      .... 
Perigo,  Harvey  G  
Pettee   Jacob  L    .    .     . 

S  wanton.     .    .     . 
St.  Juhusbury      . 
Trov 

18 
21 
37 

Nov.     20,  1*01. 
Dec.       5,1861. 
Dec        4   1*61 

June    28,  1,*65. 
June    22,  1864. 
*July    6   1863 

Pettee,  William  T     .... 

30 

Dec.       4,  1*61. 

t-June  14   1863 

Pinanl  Jovite  .    .     . 

St.  Johnsburv     . 

20 

Dec        fi,  1*61 

June    2X   1865 

Prisby  Hollis  W        ... 

Littleton  N  H 

18 

Dec      27  1861 

*Au<r   23   18f.3 

Putnam,  Cornelius  H     .     .     . 
Read   George  It         •     . 

Huntington      .     . 

23 
29 

Dec.      9,  1861. 
Nov     19  1*61 

June    28,1865. 
July     16  1862 

Root,  Cyrus  S    
Rosebush,  Martin  
Scott,  Nathan  W   
Severance,  Henry  V  .... 
Skinner,  Levi  W    

Sheffield.    .     .     . 
St  Johnsbury  .     . 
Newport      .     .     . 
St.  Johnsbury 

19 
18 
21 
21 
19 

Jan.     27,  1*62. 
Dec.     10,1861. 
Dec.       6,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec.     26,  1*61. 

tNov.  14,'  1864.' 
*.Iuly     5,1863. 
§May  18,1864. 
J  une    28,  1865. 
June    28   1865. 

Smith   Henry  L         .     . 

Newport      .    . 

23 

Dec.     18  1S61 

June    22   1864 

Spencer  Loren  H  ,              . 

10 

Dec      13  1861 

June    2*  1865 

Swinger,  Lawrence    .... 
Upton,  John  T  
Waldron,  John  M      .... 
Whipple,  Hiram  L    .    .    .    . 
Wil.-ox,  Martin  H     .     .     .     . 
Williams,  Ransom  W    .     .     . 
Winslow,  Loren  P      .     .    .     . 

Huntington      .     . 

Newbury     .     .     . 
Concord  .... 
St.  Johnsbury 
Troy  
Waterford  .    .    . 

26 
22 
18 
19 
22 
30 
32 

Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec.       G,  1*61. 
Dec.       3,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1X61. 
Jan.     28,  1*62. 
Dec.       4,1*61. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 

II  Nov.  26,  1864. 
Julv     16,1862. 
June    28,1865. 
11  Feb.  28,1863. 
June    28,1865. 
June    22,1864. 
July     16,1862. 

RECRUITS. 
Allen  Wyman  H 

Total  

104 
°4 

Feb        7   1865 

Jane    2^   1865 

18 

Dec      26*  1*63 

.1  une    28   1865 

.Benedict   Tabor 

18 

Auw      23*  1864 

June      1    1865 

Bonett  Dallas  R 

18 

Sept       9   1864 

June      1    1S65 

Boneit,  SewallH  



22 
18 

Jan.     18,  1S64. 
Au<*      18   1*64 

June    28,  1865. 
June      1    1865 

Bullion   Geo  H 

22 

Jufy     22*  1861 

$.Jnne  28  1865 

2() 

J  >ec      29   1  864 

|\Iar    18   1865 

18 

July      2*  1*69 

May     28   1863 

Carrick   Joliii 

45 

Sept     I9   1864 

June      1,  1865 

39 

Dec      31   1*63 

*Aug    I9   1864 

33 

Sept     10  1864 

June      1    1865 

93 

Jan        1   1*64 

J  une    28  1865 

Collins  Charles 

31 

Sept      3  l.*6l> 

||  Feb    11    1865 

Jan        5  1*64 

IJune  28   1865 

Dalton    Flavins  J 

28 

March  17   1865 

June    28*  1865 

21 

Dec      26   1*63 

June    28  1865 

Dow   Parker  S 

10 

A  ug.      6  1  864 

June      1   1865 

18 

Dec        8   1861 

*Mar    31   1864 

18 

Oct       2l'  1863 

June    28   1865 

r-ato  i  ,     e  i  y    

March   1    1*6*5 

-Frelv  Thorna<  H 

''1 

Jan      I9  1865 

June    2*  18t>5 

18 

Dec      21   1863 

June    28  1865 

34 

Dec      29  1863 

*Sept  16  1864 

<>o 

Dec      10  1863 

June    28   1865 

Gammell,  John  A.  P     ... 
Goodell   John  V 



21 
°1 

Aug.     31,  1864. 
Aug      31    1864 

June      1,  1865. 
2  Nov    18   1864 

i8 

Dec      23  1863 

II  July  "4  1864 

18 

Nov      30   186'' 

*July  16  1864 

vreo  t;e,  do.  epn    .  •     • 

18 

Dec      18   1*63 

June    98   1865 

ilarrin..t«>n,  Liuvin  L,     .     .     . 

"5 

March  24   1865 

June    28  1865 

3                   '.^.a   I/1      '  ',•      Vcr* 

18 

Dec        8   1863 

June    28  1865 

Henthon,  Thomas      .... 

39 
18 

Jan.       6,  1865. 
Feb      15  1865 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28   1865 

Judd  William 

42 

March   6   1865 

June    28  1865 

94 

Dec      10  1*63 

June    28*  1865 

T  pifh     William 

''1 

Dec      2*   1*63 

2Oct     10   1864 

Longevine,  Isaac   .          ... 

39 

March  13,  1865. 
Dec      19  1863 

July       1,1865. 
June    28   1865 

ais  on,     eo  

*Died  of  disease,  t  Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  tDied  of  wounds  received  in  action.  §  Deserted. 
UTransferred.  ^Promoted.  IColored  cook  mustered  out.  21>ied  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar 
Creek,  Oct.  19. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY  C. — Continued. 


295 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

19 

Dec.     30  1863. 

June    28  1865 

McCol  ley,  James  . 

27 

March   3   1*65. 

*  A  prill  5,  1865. 

Me  Leon    Win    H 

20 

Feb.     15,  1865. 

June    '2*  1865. 

Meader  Clias.  H    .     .     . 

29 

Dec.     28,  1863. 

Jan.     29,  1865. 

Mizer  Francis 

19 

Dec.     26   1863. 

June    28  1865 

29 

March  22  1865 

June    28  1865 

Norton,  John  W 

24 

Nov      11,  1863. 

June    28  1865 

Pa  ore  Oscar 

18 

Jan        4  1864. 

June    28  1865 

Page,  Albert  E 

32 

Dec.       8,  1863 

*May  20  1864. 

19 

May     19  1864 

tNov      4   1864 

Prins  Lewis 

19 

March  25,  1864. 

July     15,  1865 

Rich  James  D 

29 

Dec      24  1863 

Nov      20   1864 

Scribner,  Benj.  F  

41 
19 

Sept.      3,  1863. 
Dec        7  1863 

June      1,  1865. 
June    28  1865 

Shatnpeau,  Peter  .             . 

23 

Feb        9  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 

Simons,  Orin      .... 

22 

Dec      22,  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 

Smith,  Geo.  W  

27 

22 

Dec.     28,  1863. 
Dec      27   1864 

June    28,1865. 
June    28   1865 

Smith,  Willard  G  .    . 

26 

Dec      29  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Stamps  Geo  W    . 

3G 

Jan      30  1863 

t  June  28  1865 

Stebbins,  Chas.  H       .     . 

18 

Dec      23,  1863. 

June    28  1865 

22 

Dec      30  1864 

June    28  1865 

Stevens,  Hiram    .         . 

41 

Feb      13,  1865 

June    28  1865. 

Sturgeon   Robert        . 

18 

Dec      29  1>63 

June    28  1865 

Talbot  David    .    . 

34 

Jan.     13,  ls65 

June    28*  1865 

Thompson  AmasaF 

1<) 

Feb        7   1  >  65 

June    28  1865 

Trainor  Peter 

2° 

Feb      18  1865 

June    28  1865 

Webster  Daniel  G 

24 

A  tig      15  1864 

June      6  186r) 

Well«>  Horace  A 

I'] 

Jan        4  1864 

§  July  22  1864 

White,  Chas  A 

21 

Aug      30   1*64. 

J  une     1   1865 

White  John 

22 

July     22  1864 

1  Sept     3  1864 

Wiswell,  John  C 

18 

March  30  1S65." 

June    28   1865 

Woods,  Lemuel  N 

42 

Dec      10   1863 

June    28  1865 

Woodward,  Sylvester 

43 

Nov.    27,  1863 

May     18,  1865. 

TVal  
Aggregate  .     .     . 

73 
177 

COMPANY    D,     BRADFORD. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Dnte  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,  Cyrus  B.  Leach  .    .     . 
1st  Lieut.,  Alfred  E.  Getchell 
2d  Lieut.,  Darius  G.  Child      . 

Bradford     .     .     . 
Bradford      .    .     . 
Fairlee    .... 

31 
37 
26 

Dec.     28,  1861. 
Dec.     28,  1861. 
Dec.     28,  1861. 

June    22,1864. 
Feb.     26,  1S65. 
H  July  20,  1862. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st,  Dennis  Buckley       .     .     . 
Phineas  S.  Palmer    .... 
Nathaniel  Robie    
Jacob  B.  Sawver   
Edward  F.  Gould.     .     .     . 

Bradford      .     .    . 
Thett'ord      .    .     . 
Bradford      .    .     . 
Topsham      .    .     . 

26 
27 
26 
34 
20 

Nov.      2,  1801. 
Dec.     17,  1861. 
Nov.     22,  1>61. 
Dec.       7,1861. 

1TDec.    7,  1863. 
July     20,1863. 
IDec.      6,1864. 
May        4,  1863. 
June    28   1865 

CORPORALS. 
Albert  D.  Heath 

2^ 

Dec        2   1^61 

Feb       1^   1862 

Andrew  J.  Young      .... 

Topsham      .     .     . 

27 

Dec.        4,  1S61. 

t-\lar.     1,1862. 

*Died  of  disease.      tDeserted.    jColored   cook  mustered  out.      ^Transferred. 
Algiers,  La.     ^Cashiered.     lDied,at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt. 


[Died  at 


296 


THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY  I). — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

• 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

William  S.  Peabody  .     .    .    . 
Edwin  R.  Corliss  

Topsham     .    .    . 
East  Corinth    . 

22 
28 

Deo.       4,  1861. 
Dec      16   1861 

* 
July      7  1863 

Wm.  H.  H.  Gilmore  .... 
Wra  F  Peters 

Fairlee    .... 
Bradford 

22 
30 

Dec.       7,  1861. 

Chas.  W.  Woodbury  .... 
Edwin  P.  Garland     .... 

MUSICIAN. 
Ira  I.  Ingram 

Bradford     .    .    . 
Topsham     .    .    . 

Topsham     .     . 

28 
21 

18 

Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 

Dec        2  1861 

tMar.  22,  1863. 
tMar.     4,  1864. 

June    °8   1865 

WAGONER. 
Freeman  F.  Fleming     .    .    . 

PRIVATES. 
Andross,  Noble          .... 

Bradford     .    .    . 
Bradford      .    .     . 

28 
45 

Dec.       4,  1861. 
Nov.    20  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
tJune  92  1864 

Aoistin,  Geo.  H  .     . 

Bradford     .    .    . 

18 

Dec        7  1861 

June    28*  1865 

Avery  Geo  W 

20 

Dec      13*  1861 

t  June  28*  1862 

Avery,  Sylvester  H    .    .    .    . 

Topsham     .    .    . 
Stratford 

29 
34 

Dec.     11J1861. 
Dec      17   1861 

tJune    3,'  1863.' 
June    28   1865 

Baldwin,  Absalom      .... 
Barber,  Alpheus  P    .    .    .    . 
Barber  Chas.  S 

Bradford      .     .     . 
West  Fairlee   .    . 
West  Fairlee  .     . 

18 
22 
21 

Nov.     25,'  1861.' 
Dec.       6,  1861. 
Dec       °  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
tFeb    26   1865 

Vershire  . 

23 

Dec      13  1861 

June    28*  1865 

Barstow,  Russell  A    .... 
Bliss   Wra   C 

Yershire.     .    .    . 
Bradford     . 

21 
30 

Dec.     30,  1861. 
Nov      22   1861 

July       7,  1865. 
§April<>5   1865 

Newbury     .    .     . 

40 

Jan        9*  1862 

July      5   1863 

Brown   Mills  O 

West  Fairlee 

25  • 

Nov      27   1861 

June    22  1864 

Bugbee,  Edmond    
Butterfield,  Henry.  Jr   .    .     . 
Child,  Lewis  
Clark,  John  F    . 

Washington     .    . 
Topsham     .    .    . 

Strafford      .     .     . 

19 
18 
23 
19 

Dec.     13,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.     17,  1861. 

II  Aug.     1,1862. 
Way  27,  1863. 
June    30,  1865. 
June    22  1864 

Colby,  Russell  D   .    .    . 

West  Fairlee  .    . 

18 

Dec      17  1861 

Oct       22  1863 

Corliss  Wm    H 

East  Corinth 

20 

Dec        6   1861 

July     24   1863 

Daniels  Oscar  B    

Peacham     .    .    . 

25 

Jan        7   1862. 

June    28*  1865. 

Dickey,  Thomas  W    .     .    .     . 
Dow  Francis  R 

Topsham     .     .     . 
Stafford  .... 

26 
18 

Dec.     13,  1861. 
Dec.     23  1861 

Oct.      15,  1862. 
Oct.      17  1862. 

Dow,  Geo.  H      .    . 

Bradford     .    .    . 

19 

Jan.       1,  1862. 

May     22,  1865. 

Eastman,  Harmon  W    .    .     . 
Emerson,  Horace  P    .... 
Emery,  Asa  S    .    .    .         . 

Topsham     .    .    . 
East  Corinth  .    . 
Groton    .... 

23 
18 
21 

Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec        7,  1861 

tAprillO,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22  1864. 

Emery  Chas  G 

Groton         .    .    • 

18 

Jan.       9  1862 

June    28   1865 

Foot  Dennis  W 

Thetford      .    .     . 

19 

Dec      19,  1861. 

tNov.  27   1862. 

Foster   Fzekiel     . 

Topsham     . 

35 

Jan        7   1862 

tDec.   20  1862 

Gelo,  Moses  
Hammond,  Gilman  S    .    .    . 
Haskins  Wm.  H  . 

Bradford     .    .    . 
Fairlee    .... 
Bradford     .    .    . 

24 
21 
39 

Nov.    21,1861. 
Dec.     17,  1861. 
Nov.    21,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 
Sept.      4,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 

Haynes,  Edward  W  .    .     .    . 
Hayward,  Putnam    .... 
Jenkins,  Mason  B      .     .     .     . 
Jenkins,  Thomas  J    .    .    .    . 
Johnson,  Eben  E  

Brattleboro      .    . 
Topsham     .    .    . 
Fairlee    .... 
Fairlee    .... 
Topsham     .    .    . 
Fairlee    .... 

18 
21 
26 
35 
21 
37 

Feb.       6,  1862. 
Dec.     24,  1861. 
Dec.     26,  1861. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.      7,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Oct.        5,  1863. 
Sept.    27,1863. 
tDec.         1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

Kennedy,  Geo.  E  
Lafkin,  Jonathan  C  .    .    .    . 
Lahas  Norbit                  .    . 

Bradford     .    .    . 
Bradford     .     .     . 
Bradford     .    .    . 

25 
44 
20 

Dec.     17,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       6,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 
March  28,  1863. 
II  May    18,1864. 

Bradford     .    .    . 

32 

Dec      16   1861 

June    28,  1865 

Lamb  Chas  S  .    .             .    . 

Ryegate  .... 

18 

Dec.     17,  1861. 

t  April  21,  1862. 

Bradford     .    . 

28 

Dec        7,  1861 

Deserted. 

Liscom.'john  E      
Mann,  Stephen  H     .     .    .     . 
Martin,  Chester     
Meder  Horace  E             ... 

Corinth   .... 
Fairlee    .... 
Bradford     .    .     . 
Newbury     .    . 

20 
25 
18 
18 

Dec.       6;  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.    27,  1861. 
Jan.       9,  1862. 

tNov.  24,  1862. 
June    28^1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
tMar.  25,  1863. 

Bradford     .    .    . 

41 

Nov.    22,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 

Mills,  Jacob,  Jr     
Morrison,  Geo.  W     .    .    .    . 
Morrison  Hiram                 .    . 

Topsham     .    .    . 
Newbury     .    .     . 
Newbury     .    . 

19 
20 
18 

Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     10,  1861. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 

1  June  28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
2June  28,  1865. 

*Discharged  for  promotion.    tDied  of  disease,    t  Absent  sick.    §Transferred.    ]|  PeserteJ , 
HKilled  Port  Hudson.    lAbsent  wounded.    2On  detached  service. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY  D. — Continued. 


297 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Ober,  Edwin  F  .     .    .         .     . 

Topsham 

21 

Dec.     13,  1861. 

Nov       7   1863. 

O'Malley,  Owen  F     .     .    .    . 
Peabody,  Jesse  W     .... 
Peabody,  Luther    

Newbury 
Topsham 
Topsham 
Bradford 

27 
20 
19 
26 

Dec.     26,  1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.      6,  1861. 
Jan      29  1862 

*Nov.  25,  1864. 
Oct.      23,  1863. 
tNov.     7,  1863. 
July      8,  1862 

Pierce,  Horace  A            . 

Bradford 

18 

Jan      17   1862. 

tSept     4  1863. 

Putnam,  Ephraim      .... 
Renfrew,  George   .             . 

Bradford 
Topsham 

43 

19 

Jan.     13,  1862. 
Dec        2  1861 

§June  22,  1864. 
llJune    3   1863 

Richardson,  Henry  C    .     .    . 
Ring,  Henry  E  

Topsham 
Corinth   . 
Thetford 

23 
21 
21 

Dec.       2,  1861. 
Jan.     31,  1862. 
Dec.     26,  1861. 

July     17,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
tJuly     3,  1863. 

Robinson,  Jonathan  H  .    .    . 

Bradford 
Brad  ford 

44 

38 

Dec.     26,  1861. 
Nov     21,  1861 

Oct.      15,  1862. 
*May  19,  1864. 

Rowe  Rufus  H 

Corinth 

21 

Jan      °4  1862 

June    22  1864 

Scott,  David  
Scott  Samuel  W 

Newgate 

20 
21 

Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec      13  1861 

July     12,  1863. 
June    28  1865. 

Shumway,  Monroe    .... 
Smyth  Robert 

Bradford 

32 
22 

Dec.       7,  1861. 
Jan      30  1862 

tDec.  15,  1862. 
Oct       17   1862 

Stevens,  Elbridge  E  .    .    .    . 
Taplin  Horace  E                    . 

Corinth    . 
Corinth 

18 
25 

Dec!     14,'  1861. 
Dec      11   1861 

t  June  11,  1864. 
1TJune28  1865 

Washington 

22 

Dec      13  1*61. 

lOct.    21   1864. 

Thompson,  Henry  J  .     .     .    . 
Tuttle,  Elias  J  .    . 

Sharon    . 
Newbury 

21 
25 

Dec.     17,  1861. 
Dec      26  1861 

HJune  14,  1863. 
IFJune  28,  1865. 

Tuttle  Geo  L 

18 

Dec      26  1861 

June  28   1865 

Webster,  Josiah  R    .    .    .    . 
Wheeler,  Edmond  L  .    .    .    . 
Whitney,  Geo.  H  

Bradford 
Brattleboro 
We^t  Fairlee 

27 
18 
18 

Dec.     24,  1861. 
Jan.     28,  1862. 
Nov     30   1861 

Feb.     25,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    22   1864 

Wild,  Azariah  T    
Willey  Horace  L  .    .    .    . 

West  Fairlee 

26 
44 

Nov.    27,  1861. 
Jan      25  1862 

1862. 
Datenot  given 

Wyman,  Calvin     

Xewbury     . 

30 

Jan!     28  1862. 

Oct       25,  1862. 

RECRUITS 
Allen,  John  ...         ... 

Total  

100 
33 

Feb        4   1865. 

t  April  14,  1865. 

Almane  Peter  .             ... 

27 

July      2   1862 

JJune  14   1864 

Baptist,  Jean    .    . 

34 

May     20,  1862. 

Mar.     28   1863. 

Bean   Geo  N.  M 

20 

May     16  1864 

June    15  1865; 

Bean,  Richard  C    .         ... 

18 

May     11   1864 

June    28  1865. 

Brue  Joseph 

May       5  1864 

Bugbee,  Chas.  P    .         .    . 

22 

Feb.     28?  1862 

tNov    28   1862. 

Bullock,  Prentice 

29 

Dec      17   1863 

June    28  1865. 

Burke,  Michael                   .    . 

38 

Dec.     15  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Burlingame  Stephen 

27 

Dec      19  1863 

Transferred 

Buswell,  Albert     .         ... 

42 

Jan.      4  1864 

June    28  1865. 

Carpenter,  Edmond        .    .    . 

21 

Dec.     25  1863. 

tNov.    3,  1864. 

Carpenter,  Wm  E 

24 

Jan        4  1864 

2June  28   1865. 

Casey  James    .              .    . 

44 

Dec      28  1863 

June    28  1865 

Child,  Willard  H 

23 

Aug.    29'  1864 

June      1   1865. 

Clancey,  Michael                      . 

og 

Feb        4*  1865 

June    28   1865 

Clarey,  Patrick 

35 

Dec      20  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Clement,  Freeman  K 

20 

Aug     °3  1864 

June      1    1865 

Connolly  Michael  . 

Jan        6  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

Cornell  Thomas                      . 

22 

Dec'     3o'  1864 

June    °8   1865 

Curran,  Patrick    .         . 

38 

Oct       12  1862 

+Oct     16,  1862. 

Davis  David  H 

18 

Jan        2  1864 

June    28   1865 

Davis,  Milton  H    . 

18 

Jan        4  1864 

June    28,  1865. 

Davis  Merritt  A 

26 

Jan      26*  1865 

June    28  1865. 

Day,  John  H 

20 

Dec      10  1863 

3Oct     19'  1864. 

Derby,  Alfred  B 

21 

Aug      10   1864 

July     19  1865. 

Dew,  Francis     . 

43 

Jan        5  1864 

June    28,  1865. 

Emerson,  Chas.  H 

20 

Feb      °9  1864 

June    28   1865. 

Faulkner,  Wm  .    . 

38 

Dec      16  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 

Fay,  James  T 

35 

Dec      10   1863 

tAug    30   1864 

Fisher,  Samuel  J  .         .    . 

44 

Dec!       8'  1863! 

Transferred. 

Forbes,  Francis 

18 

Dec      28  1863 

June    28  1865. 

Forbes  Robert  .    . 

18 

Dec      28*  1863 

June    28   1865. 

"Transferred.  tDied  of  disease.  jDeserted.  §Sick  at  New  Orleans.  ||Killed  at  Port 
Hudson.  1[On  furlough.  IDied  from  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19,  1864.  2Absent 
sick.  SSupposed  killed. 


.298 


THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 


COMPANY  D. —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Fuller,  Albert  C         .    . 

20 
30 

20 
26 
24 

18 
19 
19 
21 
28 
32 
44 
37 
39 
24 
27 
21 
22 
28 
30 
26 
32 
19 
34 
27 
22 
25 
36 
21 
28 
22 
44 
21 
18 
31 
34 
44 
21 
45 
40 
34 
45 
18 

Jan.       1,  1864. 
Jan.      6,  1865. 
March  7,  1865. 
March  17,  1865. 
Dec.     18,  1863. 
Nov.    28,  1863. 
Aug.     25,  1864. 
May     10,  1864. 
May     17,  1864. 
Dee.     19,  1863. 
Dec.     31,  1863. 
Dec.     16,  1863. 
Sept.      2,  1864. 
Dec.     31,  1863. 
Dec.     21,  1863. 
Feb.     10,  1865. 
May       5,  1864. 
May     20,  1862. 
May     20,  1862. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Dec.     23,  1864. 
Jan.     18,  1865. 
Jan.       2,  1864. 
Dec.     22,  1863. 
Feb.       8,  1865. 
Dec.       7,  1863. 
Dec.     23,  1864. 
Jan.       3,  1864. 
Dec.     23,  1864. 
Dec.     15.  18C3. 
May       5,  1864. 
Dec.     17,  1863. 
Jan.     13,  1865. 
Dec.     16,  1863. 
Dec.     10,  1863. 
Dec.     21,1863. 
Dec.     31,  1863. 
Dec.     23,  1863. 
Dec.     21,  1863. 
June    27,  1862. 
March   7,  1865. 
Feb.     28,  1862. 
Dec.       5,  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    19,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Transferred. 
Died  1864. 
June      1,1865. 
June    28,  18C5. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,1865. 
Transferred. 
*Mav  31,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    29,  1865. 
tSept.  13,  1863. 
May     18,  1865. 
Transferred. 
June-  28,  1865. 
tMar.  14,  1865. 
June      6,1865. 
May     13,  1865. 
J  uiie    28,  1865. 
•June    28,1865. 
tMar.  14,  1*65. 
JJune  28,  1865. 
June    28,1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
HJune  28,  1865. 
June    12,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Jur,e    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
§Oct.    22,  1864. 
June    26,  1865. 
SJune  25,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
§April    4,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

Gait,  Robert  

Gaskill.  Chas     
Hall,  John  E    . 
Hall,  Thomas  J     . 

Harradan,  Geo.  W     .... 
Horton,  Walter  S  .    .     .     . 
•Jacobs,  Joseph     ... 

Jacobs,  Richard     
Kelley,  Lawrence       .... 

Larama,  John   

Larkin,  John          .         ... 

Larni,  David      
Lynda,  Nathaniel  G  .    .     .     . 

Manahan,  Samuel     .... 
Mansur,  Joseph 

Maponi,  Antoine    .     . 

Marrion,  Chas    
Merchant,  .lames  C  .    .    .    . 
Miller,  John  
Miller,  Thomas      ... 

Mills,  Alonzo  H    .    . 

Minor   Henry  H 

Moore,  Patrick  
Moran,  Newton  T  
Mullen.  Fraticis 

Olds,  William    
Palmer,  John 

Perry,  Milon  F  

Prue,  Joseph     
Rollins,  Joseph  S  
Sanford,  William  
Sister,  Charles  
Sprague,  Lyman  W   .     .     .     . 
Styles,  Jeremiah  D    .     .     .     . 
Sweeney,  Joseph,  Jr     .     .     . 
Thomas,  Freeling  G  .     .     .     . 
Watson    Levi 

White,  Edward      
White,  Joseph  H  
Wilder,  Solomon  I)    .... 
Willis,  Evander  H      .... 

Total  
Aggregate    .    .    . 

7« 
176 

COMPANY    E,    WORCESTER. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Commission. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

Capt.,  Edward  Hall  .... 
1st.  Lieut.,  Kilburn  Day    .    . 
2d  Lieut.,  Truman  P.  Kellogg 

Worcester   .    .    . 
Bethel     .... 
Worcester   .    .    . 

43 
43 
38 

Jan.       1,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 

llOct.    28,  1864. 
IFDec.  11.  1862. 
Uuly  23,  1862. 

*Drowned.    tDeserted.    iSick  in  General  Hospital.    §Died  of  disease.    ||Died  of  wounds 
received  at  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19,  1864.    ^Resigned.    IDied  at  Algiers,  La. 


ORIGINAL     ROSTER. 
COMPANY  E. —  Continued. 


299 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
Irf.,  Edward  s.  Drown     .    . 
Joseph  H.  Lane     
James  E  Thayer       .... 

Wolcott  .... 
Hardwick    .     .     . 
Montpelier  .     .    . 

27 
24 
35 

Oct.  6,  1861. 
Dec.  20,  1861. 
Oct.  1,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 
June    22,1864. 
*Sept.    4,  1862. 

Xenophon  Udall    
Benjamin  F.  Morse  .... 

CORPORALS. 
William  Shontell  
Franklin  A.  Sanford     .    .     . 
Newell  H.  Hibbard    .... 
Orrin  Mnxliam       

Craftsbury  .    .     . 
Eliuore    .... 

Middlesex   .    .     . 
Worcester    .    .    . 
Bethel      .... 
Northlield   .     .     . 

33 
33 

25 
25 
18 
21 

Dec.  18,  1861. 
Dec.  9,  1861. 

Oct.  1,  1861. 
Dec.  2,  1861. 
Sept.  30,1861. 
Oct.  7,  1861. 

tMar.  11,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 

Feb.     12,  1863. 
tFeb.     8,  1864. 
June    12,  1865. 
£Feb.         1863. 

John  F    Plielps 

Berlin      .... 

28 

Dec.  17,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 

3ra  Barrett    .         .         ... 

Woodbury  .    .     . 

38 

Dec.  7,  1861. 

SJune  14,  1863. 

Francis  Wilson 

Middlesex        .     . 

28 

Oct.  3,  1861. 

iDec       5,  1862. 

Benjamin  F.  Bowman   .    .     . 

MUSICIANS. 
Roswell  S.  Nichols     .... 
Martin  Winchell 

Royaltoii      .    .    . 
Middlesex   .     .     . 

18 

41 

63 

Oct.  5,  1861. 

Nov.  30,  1861. 
Dec.  19,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 

June    30,1862. 
||  Aug.  18,  1862. 

WAGONER. 
O^car  Maxliam 

Xorthfield   .    .     . 

23 

Nov  27,  1861. 

HJan.  25,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 
Abbott    Calvin  B            .     . 

Bethel     .... 

35 

Oct.  1,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 

Allen,  Pardon  W  
Amel,  Lewis 

Hardwick    .     .    . 
Middlesex    .     .     . 

18 
38 

Dec.  19,  1861. 
Oct.  7,  1861. 

June    30,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 

Bailev,  Amos     
Bailev,  John  W      
Bailey,  Samuel  A  
Bailev,  Simon  E 

Wolcott  .... 
Wolcott  .... 
Wolcott  .... 
Wolcott  .... 

44 

18 
44 

18 

Dec.  1,1861. 
Dec.  1,  1861. 
Dec.  1,  1861. 
Dec.  19,  1861. 

Jjune  22,  1862. 
Julv     14,  1862. 
iSept.  23,  1862. 
*Sept.    4,  1862. 

Barrett,  Chas.  A.  J    .    .     .     . 

Hardwick    .     .     . 

22 

Dec.  2,1861. 

Sept.     4,  1862. 

Barrett,  George 

AYoodbury  . 

28 

Dec.  16,  1861. 

June    28,1865. 

Barrett  Levi 

Hardwick        . 

27 

Dec.  18  1861. 

jOct       4,  1863. 

Bates,  Albert  G      
Carley   William 

Barre  
East  Montpelier  . 

21 
44 

Jan.  13,  1862. 
Nov.  28  1861 

June    30,  1862. 
June     4,  1864. 

Chase,  Zolva  W               .     . 
Clogston,  Chas.  H          .    . 
Colgrove,  John  S   . 
Corliss,  Albert  A  . 
Corliss,  Stephen    .         .     . 
Dana,  Lyman    .     .         .     . 
Drury,  Jason      .     .         .     . 
Emery.  Ezra  H      .         .     . 
Farntiam    John 

Middlesex    .     .     . 
Worcester   .     .     . 
Wolcott  .... 
Tunbridge  .     .     . 
Tunbridge  .     .     . 
Orange    .... 
Barre  
Bethel      .... 
Middlesex        .    . 

19 
2t 
27 
18 
44 
23 
22 
29 
32 

Sept.  30,  1861. 
Sept.  26,  1861. 
Dec.  12,  1861. 
Oct.  7,  1861. 
Oct.  7,  1861. 
Dec.  17,  1861. 
Dec.  12.1861. 
Oct.  3,  1861. 
Dec.  25,  1861 

1  June  22,  1864. 
Julv     14,  1862. 
*Sept.    4,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
t  April  22,  1863. 
Julv       7,  1863. 
2Sept  25,  1863. 
JJuly   10,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 

Ferrin.  Thomas  F  . 

Walden   .... 

25 

Dec.  14,  1861. 

*Dec.   20,  1864. 

Foster,  Isaac  G  
French,  David  E    . 

Montpelier  .    .     . 
Barre  

43 
43 

Jan.  4,  1862. 
Jan.  IS,  1862. 

Oct.      12,  1863. 
I    iNov.  10,  1862. 

Getchell,  John  W      .... 
Grav,  Wm.  R 

Montpelier  .    .    . 
Greensboro  . 

26 
19 

Dec.  10,  1861. 
Dec.  21,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 
1    *Sept.    4,  1862. 

Greenwood   Fred 

Middlesex        .     . 

21 

Dec.  8,  1861 

*Sept     4,  1862. 

Hall,  Charles     

Worcester    . 

18 

Oct.  1,  1861. 

June    30,  1862. 

Hills,  Chas  E  L    . 

Barre                 .     . 

18 

Dec  22,  1861 

JJulv     3,  1863. 

Hills,  Wm.  P     
Holmes,  Geo    P 

Waterbury  .     .     . 
Woodbury        . 

18 
22 

Feb.  7,  1862. 
Nov  29,  1861 

June    22,  1864. 
3Mar.     5,  1863. 

Holmes.  Ira  ...              .    . 

Woodburv  .     .     . 

24 

Dec.  7,  1861. 

3  June  28,  1864. 

Howard,  James  W    .     .     .     . 
Hutchins,  Geo.  G  
Jones,  Alonzo    .              .     . 

Brattleboro      .     . 
Sherburne    .     .    . 
Montpelier  . 

18 
29 
44 

Feb.  8,  1862. 
Jan.  10,  1862. 
Jan.  6,  1862. 

4,7  une  24,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
1    Oct       16,  1862. 

Jones,  John  P 

Waterbury 

18 

Dec  30  1861. 

June    28  1865 

Jones,  William  .     .     . 

Waterbury       .    . 

25 

Dec.  6,  1861 

5June  14,  1863. 

King,  David  G  .     .    .     . 

Woodbury   . 

35 

Dec  7  1861. 

Aug      22,  1863. 

Kinson,  Benjamin  H      .     .    . 
Labarron,  Robinson  .... 
Lamed,  Rollin  E  . 

Middlesex    .     .    . 
Woodbury  .    .    . 

26 
38 
23 

Oct.  3,  1861. 
Dec.  1,  1861. 
Dec  14  1861 

Mune  18,  1872. 
6Julv    14,  1865. 
«j[Nov.    2   1864. 

*Killed  at  Bayou  des  Allemaiids.  transferred.  jDied  of  disease.  §Kille  I  at  Port  Hudson. 
HDropped.  HDied  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  ISick  at  New  Orleans.  2Died'ot  wounds  3Deserted. 
4Died  ol  wounds  received  at  Port  Hudson.  5Missing  in  action  at  Port  Hudson  6Sick  in  Gen 
eral  Hospital. 


3°° 


THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY  E. —  Continued. 


Name. 


Maxhara,  Geo    .    .  . 

McGookin,  Henry  . 

McMurphy,  Julius  . 

Morey,  Robert  .     .  . 

Morse,  Andrew  J  .  . 

Morse,  Benjamin  F.,  2d 

Morse,  Luther  W  .  . 

Murphy,  William  .  . 

Nelson*  Alonzo  R  .  . 

Nelson,  Edwin  H  .  . 

Perrin,  Geq.  W     .  . 

Poor,  Geo.  H     .     .  .     , 

Powers,  Harrison  .  . 

Putnam,  Hiram  M  . 

Reed,  Alfred  M     .  . 

Reed,  Andrew  J    .  . 

Reed,  Edwin  W     .  . 

Rickard,  Hymen  0  . 

Rogers,  Eugene .    .  .    , 

Sabin,  David  P  .     .  . 

Shontell,  Benjamin  . 

Shontell,  Frederick  .    , 

Shontell,  Leander .  .     , 

Sinclair,  Hiram  D  .     , 

Slack,  Win.  H   .    .  .    , 

Slay  ton,  Theodore.  .    , 

Smith,  Charles  .     .  . 

Snow,  Francis  Y   .  .     , 

Staples,  Chas    .    .  .    , 

Staples,  Milton      .  .    . 

Stevens,  Collamer  G  . 

Thompson,  Leonard  . 

Warren,  Alonzo  S  . 

Warren,  Lorenzo  S  . 

Webster,  Ephraim  . 

Wedge  wood,  Geo.  E  . 

Wheat,  Geo.  F  .    .  . 

Wood,  Henry  M    .  . 

Wood,  Wm.  W  .    .  . 

Wood  bury,  Asa     .  . 

Young,  Gustavus  S  . 


RECRUITS. 
Andrews,  Chas.  L. 
Averill,  James  W  . 
Averill,  John  W  . 
Bacon,  John  W  . 
Bahne,  Deidrich  . 
Bates,  Lewis  B  .  . 
Becker,  Gustavus  C 
Bellows,  Franklin 
Bement,  Wm.  B  . 
Bigelow,  Rufus  .  . 
Blair,  Samuel  N  . 
Blaisdell,  Oliver  T 
Blanchard,  Geo.  W 
Bowen,  Dustin,  Jr 
Bowman,  Albert  H 
Bowman,  Amos  B 
Brandt,  Aleck  .  . 
Brust,  Loui  .  .  . 
Burill,  Albert  J  . 
Burke,  Mason  P  . 
Burke,  Oscar  F  . 


Residence. 


Age. 


Date  of 
Enlistment. 


Date  of 
Discharge. 


East  Montpelier 
Belvidere  . 
Duxbury 
Wolcott  .  . 
Elraore  .  . 
Wood  bury  . 
Elmore  .  . 
Hyde  Park  . 
Orange  .  . 
Woodbury  . 
Barre  .  .  . 
Worcester  . 
Morel  own  . 
Craftsbury  . 
Berlin  .  . 
Berlin  .  . 
Greensboro . 
Bethel  .  . 
Bethel  .  . 
Woodbury  . 
Middlesex  . 
Middlesex  . 
Middlesex  . 
Montpelier  . 
Washington 
Worcester  . 
Worcester  . 
Sharon  .  . 
Williamstown 
Williamstown 
Bethel  .  . 
Wolcott  .  . 
Middlesex  . 
Middlesex  . 
Orange  .  . 
Bethel  .  . 
Elmore  .  . 
Waterbury  . 
Waterbury  . 
Craftsbury  . 
Duxbury 

Total  . 


101 


Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Deo. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 


8,  18C1. 

15,  1861 

10,  1861. 
1,  1861. 

3,  1861. 

9,  1861. 
9,  1861. 

21,  1861. 

17,  1861. 
7,  1861. 

11,  1861. 

27,  1861. 
14,  1>61. 

18,  1861. 

4,  1861. 

28,  1861. 
18,  1861. 

7,  1861. 
30,  1861. 

6,  1862. 

16,  1861. 
10,  18G2. 
16,  1861. 

28,  186-1. 
13,  1861. 
30,  1861. 

8,  1861. 
1,  1861. 

4,  1861. 

6,  18C2. 
30,  1861. 

29,  1861. 

7,  1861. 
7,  1861. 

18,  1861. 
28,  1861. 

5,  1861. 
16,  1861. 
16,  1861. 

1,  1861. 
13,  1862. 


Feb. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Sept. 
July 
Dec. 
July 
Dec. 
Jan. 


Dec. 
Dec. 
Aug. 
Sept. 


July 
July 
Feb. 
Dec. 
Dec. 


21,  1865. 
3,  1863. 

3,  18K3. 
17,  1864. 
23,  1862. 
23,  1863. 
30,  1862. 

9,  1863. 

4,  1864. 
March  6,  1865. 
Dec.  26,  1863. 

21,  1863. 
3,  1863. 

5,  1864. 
14,  1864. 

Sept.  14,  1864. 

22.  1862. 
21,  1862. 

13,  1865. 
28,  1863. 

14,  1863. 


July  7, 
*Sept.  4, 
tNov.  16, 
tJan. 
June  22, 
June  22, 
tJune  19, 
t 

Apr.  28, 
Feb.  20, 
June  22, 
tSept.  29, 
June  22, 
June  28, 
tAug.  15, 
tAug.  29, 
Feb.  9, 
June  30, 
June  30, 
tSept.  26, 
Oct.  16, 
tMay  16, 
§Feb.  27, 
June  14, 
June  28, 
tApr,  22, 
June  22, 


1865. 
1862. 
1863. 
1863. 
1864. 
1864. 
1863. 

1863. 
1863. 
1864. 
1862. 
1864. 
1865. 
1862. 
1863. 
1863. 
1862. 
1862. 
1863. 
1862. 
1862. 
1864. 
1862. 
1865. 
1863. 
1864. 


June 

June 

Apr. 

May 

tM4r. 

Apr. 

tNov. 

II  May 

tMar. 

tSept. 

tJuly 

tApr. 

June 


28,  1865. 
28,  1865. 
6,  1863. 

13,  1863. 
19,  1863. 

6,  1863. 
11,  1862. 
27,  1863. 

14,  1863. 
3,  1862. 

14,  1863. 
27,  1863. 
22,  1864. 


June  28,  1865. 

HOct.  21,  1864. 

June  28,  1865. 

June  1,  1865. 

1 

May  13,  1865. 


tJuly 

June 

June 

June 

July 

June 

tDec. 

.Tune 

June 

HAug. 

*Sept. 

June 

July 

July 


30,  1864. 
28,  1865. 
28,  1865. 
28,  1865. 
15,  1865. 
28,  1865. 

9,  1864. 

1,  1865. 

1,  1865. 

3,  1864. 

4,  1862. 
28,  1865. 
12,  1865. 
26,  1865. 


•Killed  at  Bayou  des  Allemands.  tDied  of  disease.  $Sent  to  Dry  Tortugas  3  years  for 
desertion.  §Transferred.  ||Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  TDeserttd.  ITaken  prisoner  Sept.  4, 
1862  ;  shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23, 1862. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY  E. —  Continued. 


301 


Name. 


Resident. 


Age. 


Date  of 
Enlistment. 


Date  of 
Discharge. 


•Cammell,  Joseph  . 
Canedy,  Thomas,  2d 
Carlton,  Noah,  Jr 
Carroll,  John  .  . 
Chittenden,  Cassias 
Converse,  Asa  E  . 
Davis,  Geo.  P  .  . 
Davis,  John  .  .  . 
Dike,  Henry  L  .  . 
Estus,  Jared .  .  . 
Ferrin,  Matthew  . 
Gale,  Frederick  M 
Gee,  Lavyus .  .  . 
Goodell,  John  A  . 
Grant,  Geo.  R  .  . 
Grow.  Henry  H 
Hamilton,  Geo.  W 
Hanman,  Theron  . 
Harding,  John  W . 
Holland,  Thomas  . 
Horton,  Franklin  . 
Howieson,  Jas  .  . 
Huet,  Wiley  .  .  . 
Hull,  Horace  A  . 
Hurst,  Bernard 
Jacob^.  Chas.  M  . 
Keeler,  Frederic  L 
Kellogg,  Julius  P  . 
Kempton,  Oliver  W 
Labarron,  Frank  . 
Lahaize,  Oliver  . 
Lamphere,  Theron  T 
Lampson,  Geo  .  . 
Leichleider,  John  . 
Leichleider,  Michael 
Little,  Isaiah  C.  . 
Mason,  Hezekiah  W 
Merrill,  Marshall  H 
Mosman.  Michael . 
Nelson.  John  .  . 
Newell,  William  . 
Olden,  Daniel  .  . 
Olden,  Geo.  E  .  . 
Olden,  Henry  M  . 
Parker,  Shepard  C 
Paul,  Frank  .  .  . 
Phelps,  Benijah  . 
Phelps,  Edwin  .  . 
Phipps,  Josephus  . 
Pierce,  Lyman  J  . 
Pike,  Geo.  T .  .  . 
Poor,  Julius  L  .  . 
Potter,  Robert  .  . 
Reed,  Marcena  .  . 
Reynolds,  Henry  A 
Hobinson,  James  . 
Santee,  Ely  ... 
Sargent,  Andrew  J 
Sillcox,  George .  . 
Slayton,  Andrew  J 
Stafford,  Robert  . 
Staples,  Francis  H 
Tirrell,  EriW  .  . 
Tracey,  George .  . 
Utton,  Edmund  . 
Walbridge,  Lysander  E 


25 

19 

18 

23 

18 

22 

25 

27 

18 

31 

22 

23 

28 

23 

18 

23 

25 

18 

18 

20 

35 

40 

45 

23 

19 

15 

19 

18 

23 

19 

28 

18 

18 

24 

20 

39 

30 

42 

22 

36 

30 

44 

20 

36 

18 

19 

27 

20 

32 

18 

18 

41 

19 

44 

22 

19 

18 

31 

25 

21 

27 

20 

26 


29 


March  1,  1865. 
Dec.  12, 1863. 
Feb.  15,  1865. 
21,  1863. 

18,  1863. 

8,  1863. 
14, 1863. 

20,  1863. 

19,  1863. 
18,  1863. 

April  19,  1864. 
Dec.  3,  1863. 

5,1864. 
14, 1865. 

8,1864 

24,  1863. 
18,  1863.  I 

10,  1865. 

9,  1865.  ; 

11,  1862. 
9,  1S63. 

13,  1865.  ! 
1,  1863.  : 

18,  1863. 

21,  1862. 

17,  1863.  i 
4,  1S64. 

6,  1864. 
29,  1863. 

April  22,  1864. 

Dec.  22,  1863. 
9,  1865.  : 
4,  1864. 
21,  1862.  ! 

21,  1862. 

29,  1863.  ! 

8,  1863.  | 

25,  1863.  I 

4,  1862.  ! 

30,  1864.  ; 

18,  1863.  j 

31,  1863. 

9,  1863.  ! 

5,  1863.  j 
30,  1863. 
16,  1862. 

4,  1864. 
4,  1864. 
18,  1865. 

14,  1865. 

12,  1863. 
10,  1864. 
20,  1865. 

12,  1863. 

7,  1863. 

22,  1863. 
30,  1863. 

March  24,  1865. 
Dec.  21,  1863. 

10,  1865. 

30,  1864. 

6,  1862. 

8,  1863. 
4,  1864. 

13,  1865: 

9,  1865. 


Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 


Dec. 

Feb. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

July 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

July 

Oct. 

Jan. 

Sept. 

Dec. 


Feb. 

Jan. 

July 

July 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

July 

Dec 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Aug. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 


Feb. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Feb. 


*June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  2H,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
tJune  28,  1865. 
tJuly  31,  1864. 
July  10,  1865. 
§J  une  30,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  1,  1865. 
May  23,  1865. 
HJune  27,  1865. 
June  28,1865. 
May  13,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
jMar.  6,  1865. 
ITAug.  3,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
1 

July  14,  1865. 
$June  13,  1864. 
June  15,  1865. 
J  April  20,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
•[Aug.  3,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
1 
1 

June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
2July  24,  1864. 
1 

June  18,  1865. 
tApril  4,  1864. 
tNov.  7,  1864. 
jMay  16,  1864. 
2July  24,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
1 

June  28,  1865. 
May  13,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
July  7,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  1,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
Oct.  5,  1864. 
3June  28,  1865. 
tJune  28,  1865. 
June  29,1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
2  June  16,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 


--*Colored  cook  mustered  out.  tSick  in  General  Hospital.  JDied  of  disease.  §  In  arrest  at  N.  Y. 
flKilled  on  Vt.  Valley  Railroad  while  en  route  to  Brattleboro,  to  be  mustered  out.  ^Deserted. 
ITaken  prisoner  Sept.  4, 1862  ;  shot  by  rebels  Oct.  23, 1862.  2Transferred.  SFifer. 


302 


THE    EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY  E. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Waldo  Will-in!  G 

28 

Sept     13  18C»4 

Tune      1   1865 

Walker  Kra**tus  A 

18 

Dec      111  863 

*Aug    0<)   1864 

Walker   Henry  11  . 

32 

Dec      11    1803. 

June    28   1805 

44 

Nov.     16   1803 

June      7   1805 

Whitconib   Frank  S 

21 

.Tan        2  1804 

May     1'j'  1865 

White   William  O 

23 

Feb      14   1805 

June    ''8   1865 

William*  Cha**  It 

18 

Feb      10   1805 

June    28   1805 

Total  
Aggregate  .    .    . 

94 
195 

COMPANY    F,    ST.    ALBANS. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Da'te  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,  Hiram  E.  Perkins    .     . 
1st  Lieut.,  Daniel  S.  Foster    . 
2d  Lieut.,  Carter  H.  Nasoii    . 

St.  Albans  .     .     . 
St.  Albans  .    .     . 
St.  Albans  .     .    . 

24 

22 
27 

Jan.       3,  1802. 
Jan.       3,  !86J. 
Jan.       3,  1802. 

tMay  31,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 
JJune    2,  1863. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st.,  Chas.  A.  Prentiss  .    .    . 
Wm.  T.  Church      

Georgia  .... 
St.  Albans   .     . 

32 
33 

Jan.      1,  1862. 
Nov      22,  1801. 

June    22,  186k 
June    22,  1864. 

Henry  C.  Nichols  .     .    . 

Burlington 

.  29 

Nov      23   1801 

Oct         8   1863. 

Byron  J.  Hurlburt    .... 
Bonaparte  J.  Chase    .... 

CORPORALS. 
Franklin  R.  Carpenter  .     .     . 
Ezra  E  Janes        .... 

Georgia  .... 
Fletcher  .... 

St.  Albans  .    .     . 
Georgia   . 

22 
20 

37 
27 

Nov.     25,  1861. 
Dec.     10,  1801. 

Nov.    25,  1801. 
Dec      29  1801 

June    22,  1864. 
*June  30,  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 
§Mar      1,  1864 

Charles  E.  Colton  
Xenophon  W.  Wood  .... 

Franklin.    .     .    . 
Fletcher 

24 
25 
30 

Jan.      13,  1862. 
Dec.     19,  1861. 
Nov      29  1861 

July     14,  1862. 
June    22,  1864. 
Oct        1    1863 

DeWitt  C.  Hurlburt  .... 
Stephen  O.Tillotson.     .     .     . 
Chas.  A.  McCluskey  .... 

MUSICIANS. 
Henry  H.  Garvin   
William  H.  Berkley  .... 

WAGONER. 
John  Chase 

Georgia   .... 
St.  Albans  .    .    . 

St.  Albans  . 
Milton     .... 

20 

27 
25 

54 
20 

19 

Nov.     25,  1861. 
Jan.       6,  1862. 
Nov.     25,  1861. 

Nov.    28,  1801. 
Dec.     18,  1801. 

Feb.       5  1802 

Aug.     15,  1802. 
Oct.      18,  1802. 
June    22,  1864. 

May     20,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

June    22,  18(4. 

PRIVATES. 
Allard,  Peter    ...... 
Barker,  Levi      
Barnes,  Chester  W    .    .     .    . 
Bartrand,  Napoleon,  Jr    .     . 
Bellows,  Osman  F     .    .    .    . 
Bertrand,  Napoleon  .... 

St.  Albans  .    .     . 
Fairtield.     .     .    . 
Bakersfield  .    .     . 

Fairfax    .... 
St.  Albans    .    .    . 
Bakerstield  .    .    . 

23 
29 
18 
18 
31 
45 
22 

Jan.     22,  1802 
Dec.       4,  1801. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 
Feb.       4,  1862. 
Nov.    21,  1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.       5,  1801 

June    30,  1804. 
June    30,  1864. 
*July  12,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    22,  1804. 
June    28   1865 

Bourk,  Clement     
Bouskey    Paul       .             .    . 

22 
20 

Jan.     31,  1802. 
Dec.     12,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 
July     17,  1865. 

*Died  of  disease.    tPromoted  to  Major  U.  S.  C.  T.    ^Dismissed  the  service.    §Transferred 
to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 


ORIGINAL     ROSTER. 


303 


COMPANY  F. —  Continued. 


Name. 


Residence. 


Age. 


Date  of 
Enlistment. 


Date  of 
Discharge. 


Brusso,  Lovell St.  Albans    .  . 

Cadret,  Zevia North  Hero  . 

Campbell,  Zeri East  Swanton  . 

Carroll,  Michael St.  Albans  .  . 

Catury,  Joseph  .     .     .     .    .     .        North  Island  . 

Clapper,  Jacob Franklin      .  . 

Clemens,  George Bakerstield  .  . 

Dapotha,  Erai j 

Dapotha,  Gasper Milton      .     .  . 

Davit,  John  h !  Bakersneld.  . 

Davis,  Lewis  A Bakersneld.  . 

Decker,  Wm.  A Alburgh  .     .  . 

Demour,  Charles I 

Deo,  Joseph  Zed Alburgh  .     .  . 

Dewey,  San  ford 

Ducharme,  Edward  ....        St.  Albans   .  . 

Dialing,  John St.  Albans    .  . 

Ellsworth,  Hebron     .     .     .    .  |   Bakersneld .  . 

Fairfield,  Geo.  W ,   St.  Albans  .  . 

Fanenf,  Geo.  N j    St.  Albans   .  . 

Garron,  Lewis ;   Milton      .    .  . 

Gardner,  Michael '   Milton      .     .  . 

Goddard,  Elisha  A    ....  \   St.  Albans   .  . 

Goff,  James |   St.  Albans   .  . 

Goodchild,  JohnM    .    .    •    . 

Gould,  Allen Bakersfield.  . 

Hazen,  Joel  T !   North  Island  . 

Henchey,  Peter 

Henchey,  Thomas  H .    .    .    .        Bakersneld .  . 

Houl,  Hurbain St.  Albans    .  . 

Hunter,  William Highgate     .  . 

Jennings,  Gustavus  F    .    .    .        Fairfield .    .  . 

Kenney,  James Lowell,  Mass  . 

Kinsley,  Wm.  L |   Fletcher  .    .  . 

Lanpher,  Edgar  R     ....  I   Bakersfield .  . 

Larock,  David,  Jr     ....        Bakersfield .  . 

Mann,  Edmond Richford .     .  . 

McCauley,  John  W    .    .    .    .       Bakersfield .  . 

Merrick,  Constant     ....        Swanton .     .  . 

Merrick,  Wm.  A St.  Albans  .  . 

Minor,  Peter Fairfax    .    .  . 

Mitchell,  Diamond  B     .    .    .        St.  Albans   .  . 

Moshier,  Amos Milton     .    .  . 

Moshier,  Lewis Milton     .    .  . 

Moss,  John  W 

Myers,  George i   St.  Albans   .  . 

Newton,  Wm.  H Hinsdale,  N.  H 

Niles,  Abner Bakerstield  .  . 

Norris,  Elijah  E Alburgh  .     .  . 

Patnow,  Peter St.  Albans   .  . 

Payne,  Dighton  L North  Hero  . 

Phelps,  Henry  W |   Fairfield  .    .  . 

Pippin,  Solomon j   Milton      .     .  . 

Reneaud,  Noel ! 

Robinson,  Cephas     .    .    .    .  I 

Robinson,  Jacob •   Bakersfield .  . 

Rowley,  Wm.  H St.  Albans  .  . 

Saltus,  Edward j   Burlington  .  . 

Saul,  Edmond |   Barton     .     .  . 

Scribner,  Geo.  W Bakersfield  .  . 

Smith,  Geo.  G St.  Albans   .  . 

Stickney,  Elvy  J \   St.  Albans   .  . 

St.  Louis,  Jesse j   Milton     .    .  . 

Stone,  Lawrence (St.  Albans   .  . 

Squires,  Jonathan  L .    .    .    .  i   Bakersfield .  . 

Taylor,  Henry  W j 


38 
18 
21 
18 
19 
19 
21 
21 
20 
25 
26 
18 
28 
19 
21 
29 
25 
24 
28 
18 
24 
27 
23 
38 
21 
42 
19 
19 
21 
21 
28 
18 
19 
18 
20 
20 
20 
40 
44 
43 
26 
44 
19 
18 
20 
35 
21 
22 
36 
22 
18 
29 
31 
19 
19 
24 
18 
20 
44 
27 
18 
39 
27 
21 
22 


Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Jan. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Jan. 


20,  1862. 

30,  1861. 

3,  1861. 

27,  1861. 
2,  1861. 

29,  1861. 

28,  1861. 

17,  1862. 
18, 1861. 
27,  1861. 
16,  1861. 

2,  1861. 
5,  1862. 
12, 1861. 

18,  1862. 

19,  1861. 

11,  1861. 
14,  1861. 

31,  1861. 
23,  1861. 

20,  1861. 
16,  1861. 

29,  1861. 
27,  1861. 

7,  1862. 

5,  1861. 
2,  1861. 

12,  1861. 
12,  1861. 

4,  1862. 

6,  1861. 
14,  1861. 
18,  1861. 

9,  1861. 

5,  1862. 

12,  1861. 

30,  1861. 
9,  1861. 

13,  1861. 

23,  1861. 
12,  1861. 
20,  1861. 

6,  1862. 

24,  1861. 
9,  1861. 

2,  1862. 

18,  1862. 
12,  1861. 
27,  1861. 

6,  1862. 
12,  1861. 
27,  1861. 
16,  1861. 

4,  1862. 

7,  1862. 

3,  1862. 

25,  1861. 
24,  1861. 

6,  18(51. 
20.  1861. 
23,  1861. 

19,  1862. 
16,  1861. 
16,  1861. 

20. 1861. 

19. 1862. 


*Feb. 

June 

June 

June 

June 

June 

tFeb. 

June 

June 

iSept. 

June 

June 


8,  1864_ 
28,  1865. 

4,  1863. 
22,  1864. 
28,  1865. 
28,  1865. 
28,  1863. 
22,1864. 
22,  1864. 
20,  1864. 
22,  1864. 
28,  1865. 


June    28,  1865. 

§Sept.  12,  1862. 

||  May  27,  1863. 

tMar.  24,  1865. 

May     13,  1865. 

Nov.     14,  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 

tJune  26,  1862. 

July     10,  1865. 

JJune  19,  1863. 
I  Oct.  18,  1862. 
i  June  22,  1864. 
I  UMay  27,  1863. 

TJan.  6,  1865. 
!  June  22,  1864. 
\  IFeb.  2C,  1862. 
1  June  22,  1864. 
!  IMar.  15,  1862. 
i  June  22,  1864. 
i  June  28,  1865. 
i  IMay  18,  1864. 
!  Aug.  16,  1863. 
|  June  28,  1865. 
i  Aug.  22,  1863. 
I  June  22,1864. 
'  Sept.  4,  1862. 
'•  *Apr.  27,  1865.. 
\  June  22,  1864. 

t  July  28,  1863. 
i  Nov.  4,  1863. 
i  jMar.  8,  1864. 

*Apr.   14,  1864. 

June  28,  1865. 
i  2June  22,  1864. 
:  IMar.  5,  1862. 
i  June  28,  1865. 

June  22,  1864. 
!  June  22,  1864. 
;  IMay  18,  1864. 
i  June  22,  1864. 

June    22,  1864. 


June 
i    JJune 
l    $May 
•    June 

June 
!  June 

Feb. 
i  June 
i  *Aug. 


22,  1864. 

23,  1862. 
2,  1863. 

12,  1865. 
22, 1864. 
28,  1865. 

26,  1863. 
28,  1865. 

27,  1863. 


*Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  tTransferred  to  Barrett's  Cavalry.  JDied  of 
disease.  §Died  of  wounds  received  Sept.  4,  1862.  ||Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  HDied  at  Salisury, 
N.  C.  IDeserted.  2Sick  in  General  Hospital.  STaken  prisoner  Oct.  IP,  1864:  joined  the 
rebel  service  Jan.,  1865. 


304 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 
COMPANY  F. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

Tracy,  Geo.  R    

Montgomery    .    . 

22 

Jan.       3,  1862. 
,7  an        3  1862 

June    28,  1865. 
Aug      22   1863 

Wells  Chas 

32 

Feb        7   1862 

June    2l)*  1864 

Wheeler,  Henry  B     .     .    .    . 
White  Stephen  M     .    .    . 

North  Hero     .    . 

18 
29 

Dec.     12,  1861. 
Nov      26   1861 

June    28,  1865. 
*Aug    31    1864 

Whitney  Henry 

18 

Dec      I9  1861 

Wood,  Robert    

Fletcher.    .    .    . 

29 

Dec!     30|  186l! 

June    12,'  1865 

RECRUITS. 

Total  

101 
41 

Mar      17  1865 

Tune    28  1865 

Albert  Peter               .    . 

19 

Jan      10  1865 

June    28  1865 

18 

Mar     25  1865 

Tune    28*  1865 

Blaudet  Hurbeine 

22 

Jan      26  1865 

June    28  1865 

Bliss   Henry  N 

21 

Mar       1   1865 

t  June    l'  1865° 

Bordeau   Frank    .         .         . 

18 

Aug      15   1864 

j 

Borell  Oliver 

24 

Jan      27  1865 

Tune    28  1865 

Bullock   David  O        ... 

19 

Mar      20*  1865 

June    28  1865 

33 

Dec      30   1863 

^Dec     13*  1864 

Coon  Oliver  E  .    .    .    . 

29 

Mar      15*  1865° 

ilune    28  1865 

18 

Dec      26  1863 

June    28*  1865 

Crown,  Win.  E            . 

18 

Mar      15  1865 

June    2^'  1865* 

Cull  John  H 

24 

Mar      13*  1865 

June    28  1865 

Daste,  Sixte  

20 

May     20,  1862. 

tMay    18,  1864 

Dodge  Geo  F 

33 

Dec      11   1863 

June    28  1865 

25 

Aprif     3   1865 

18 

Dec      *V  1863 

June    28  1865 

Fox,  Chas  F      .    .    .    . 

32 

Dec      10  1863 

June    28   1865 

French   Henry  W 

32 

Dec        3  1863 

June    °8  1865 

18 

Jan        4  ]  864 

23 

Aug     15  1864 

June      1   1865 

King  John 

28 

Dec      31   1863 

li  June      '  1864 

Labelle  Joseph 

24 

Dec      23  1864 

June    28  1865 

18 

Sept       5'  1864 

June      1   1865 

35 

April      3   1865 

June    ^8  1865 

Mack  Orson  M 

18 

Mar      15  1865 

June    28  1865 

Mack'  Wm   H   H       .    . 

19 

Mar      15  1865 

June    9H  1865 

23 

Mar      13  1865 

July     (>0  1865 

Mathews  G^o  W 

29 

Dec      16  1863 

UMay  31*  1864 

27 

Mar      15  1865 

June    I9   1865 

Monty  Wilhur  E       .    . 

18 

Aug      29  1864 

June      1    1865 

21 

I  )ec       °8   1  863 

June    28  1865 

Parker,  Geo.  E           .     . 

20 

Dec       26,  1863 

UMay  24  1864 

Peltier  George 

34 

Dec      29  1863 

|!jan     28*  1865 

Perry  Monroe        .                  . 

17 

Mar      14   1865 

June    28  1865 

34 

Jan      10   1865 

June    28   1865 

Prim,'  Seymour       
Provo  Alfred 



44 

22 

Dec.     29,  1863. 
Mar      18  1865 

II  Nov.   26,  1864. 
June    28  1866 

21 

Aug      15   1864 

June      l'  1865 

Robinson,  Wm.  W    .    .     .     . 
Ruel  Chas 



20 

24 

Mar!     20',  1865! 
Jan        9  1865 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28  1865 

23 

Tan        9  1865 

June    28  1865 

Sanderson,  Chas.  E    .    . 

18 

Mar      13  1865 

June    28  1865 

18 

Dec      26  1863 

June    28  1865 

23 

Mar      20  1865 

June    28  1865 

23 

April     3  1865 

June    28  1865 

Smith   Wm   M 

20 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28  1366 

Swan  Lucius  Y 

23 

Jan      25  1865 

June    28  1865 

45 

May     20  1862 

Sept     22  1864 

Wellman  Chandler  F 

37 

Ian      25   1865 

June    28  1865 

Wheelock  John  E 

23 

Mar      15  1865 

June    28*  1865 

Whitney  Alvin  T 

21 

May     25  1864° 

June    24*  1865 

Winslow   William 

43 

Dec      18   1863 

June    28*  1865 

39 

Dec        7*  1863* 

June    28*  1865 

Wright   Edward  B 

23 

Jan        4  1864 

June    28  1865 

Wright  John  F 

18 

Mar      30  1865 

June    28  1865 

Young,  James  L    

45 

Dec.     28,'  1863. 

Uune  18*,  1864. 

Total  
Aggregate  .    .    . 

56 

157 

*Siok  in  General  Hospital.  tDeserted.  ^Transferred  to  Seventh  Vermont.  §Discharged 
for  promotion.  IJTransferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  ^[Died  of  disease.  iTransferred  to 
Invalid  Corps. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 


305 


COMPANY    G,    RANDOLPH. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,  Sam'l  G.  P.  Craig    .    . 
1st  Lieut.,  Job  W.  Green   .     . 
2d  Lieut.,  John  B.  Mead    .    . 

Randolph    .     .     . 
Randolph    ... 
Randolph    .    .    . 

32 
30 
30 

Jan.       7,  1862. 
Jan.       7,  1862. 
Jan.       7,  1862. 

*May     4,  1863. 
t  April    1,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st,  Otho  S.  A.  Sprague     .    . 
John  M  Pike 

Randolph    .     .     . 
Shaftsbury  . 

22 
23 

Nov.    20,  1861. 
Dec.       6  1861 

July      6,  1862. 
June    28  1865 

Randolph    . 

33 

Nov.    20,  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 

"Wm.  F.  Farnsworth  .... 
Charles  R  Wills 

Braintree     .     .    . 

25 
32 

Dec.       7,  1861. 
Nov      25   18(51 

June    22,  1864. 
June    22  1864 

CORPORALS. 
Geo  W  Packard       .         .    . 

Bethel 

26 

Dec        1   1861 

Sept      8  1863 

Johnson  B.  Sargent  .... 
Henry  Coles            .                   . 

Randolph    .    .     . 
Braintree 

27 
22 

Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec        7  1861 

June    22,  1864. 
JJune  14  1863 

Dudley  C.  Woodbury     .     .     . 

Randolph    .    .    . 
Chelsea 

20 
30 

Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.       9  1861 

*Sept.  10,  1863. 
*May  22  1864 

Charles  A.  Loomis     .... 

Mt.  Holly    .    .    . 
Roxbury 

29 
21 

Dec.       7,  186l! 
Nov      22   1861 

June    22,  1864. 
JJune  14  1863 

Geo  Walker.         .         .    . 

Randolph    .    . 

25 

Dec.     14,  1861 

*April  27*  1862* 

MUSICIANS. 

Randolph 

30 

Nov      97   1861 

May      6  1863 

Almond  B.  Hayward     .    .    . 

WAGONER. 
Benjamin  A.  Kinney      .     .    . 

PRIVATES. 
Austin,  Truman  M    .     .    .     . 
Battles,  Charles  W    .... 
Battles  Geo.  W     .    .    .    . 

Randolph    .    .    . 
Randolph     .    .    . 

Rochester    .    .    . 
Braintree    .    .    . 
Braintree    .         . 

20 
25 

18 
18 
18 

Nov.     27,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 

Dec.     20,  1861. 
Dec.     25,  1861. 
Dec.     25  1861 

June   28,'  1865! 
Jane   28,  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
JMay   27   1863 

Battles,  Ira    

Braintree    .    .    . 

35 

Dec.     27,  1861. 

June    22,'  1864 

Bell  David  C    .    .    .    . 

Randolph 

21 

Dec      25,  1861 

Jure     5  1863 

Beman  Samuel 

Randolph 

39 

Dec      31   1861 

June   28  1865 

Bement,  James  H  . 

Braintree 

18 

Dec.     30*  1861 

June    28  1865 

Bennett,  Chas   

Barre       .     . 

23 

Jan      24,  1862 

June    10  1862 

Beran   Oliver     .                   . 

Granville     .     . 

35 

Dec        7   1861 

June    28   1865 

Bissell,  Lucius  W  .    ...    .    . 
Bissonette,  Paschal    .... 
Bliss,  Willis  R  

Roxbury      •     . 
Chelsea   .     . 

25 
21 

22 

Jan.     25,  1862^ 
Dec.     22,  1861. 
Dec        5  1861. 

§Jan.  24,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
June     6  1862 

Brewster,  Leroy  S     .    .     .     . 
Bruce,  Martin  L    
Bucklev,  James  W     .     .    .     . 
Chirk   Warren  S 

Randolph    .     .    . 
Braintree     .    .     . 
Randolph    .     .     . 

24 

18 
26 
18 

Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.     27,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Nov     25   1861 

June    16,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
June     6,  1862. 
June    10  1862 

Clukav,  Patrick 

Roxburv 

21 

Dec      10  1861 

June    22'  1864° 

Coles.  Geo.  W    
Coles,  Seymour  N  
Coter,  Joseph     

Braintree    .     .     . 
Braintree    .    .     . 
Braintree    . 

18 
18 
21 

Nov.     25,  1861. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Nov.    22  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
July       7,  1865. 
June    22  1864 

Cram,  Abrarn  E     
Cram,  Joseph 

Brookfield  .    .    . 

30 
24 

Dec.     10,  1861. 
Feb        4  186'-* 

June   28,  1865. 

Currier,  Joseph 

Roxbury 

40 

Nov      2o'  1861 

June    28  1865 

Davis,  John 

21 

Dec      27  1861 

||  Sept  °o'  1863 

Davis,  Thomas  
Depathy,  John  F   
Dupias,  Fabian  

Fairhaven  .     .     . 
Randolph    .     .     . 
Randolph    .    .    . 

33 
23 
18 

Dec.     18,  1861. 
Dec.     10,  1861. 
Nov.     27,  1861. 

I!  March  6,  1862. 
ITSept.   4,  1863. 
June    13,  1865. 

*Died  of  disease.    tResigned.    filled   at   Port   Hudson. 
Guards.     || Deserted.    ^Killed  at  Boutee  Station. 


§  Commission   in    3d  La.  Nat. 


306 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 
COMPANY  G-. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Durgin,  Chas.  S      

Vershire  . 
Randolph 
Vershire  . 
Royalton 
Rochester 
Randolph 
Randol  ph 
Randolph 
Corinth   .           •  . 

Braintree              : 
St.  Albans 
Randolph 
Randolph 
Granville 
Roxbury  . 
Sharon    . 
Waterbury 
Hancock 
Braintree 
Brookfield 
Braintree 
Randolph 
Granville 
Chelsea   . 
Braintree 
Randolph 
Randolph 
Northfield 
Randolph 
Randolph 
Vershire  . 
Hancock 
Randolph 
Brookfield 
Brookfield 
Braintree 
Braintree 
Braintree 
Braintree 
Braintree 
Granville 
Braintree 
Randolph 
Randolph 
Randolph 
Braintree 
Randolph 
Vershire  . 
Granville 
Randolph 
Vershire  . 
Royalton 
Randolph 

Total  

28 
20 
37 
28 
21 
27 
18 
21 
30 
21 
34 
27 
29 
33 
22 
18 
18 
28 
18 
18 
43 
18 
44 
23 
35 
18 
26 
29 
18 
33 
26 
44 
27 
22 
25 
19 
21 
22 
38 
27 
26 
26 
24 
18 
22 
34 
40 
18 
24 
19 
18 
18 
22 
45 

Jan.     16,  1862. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Jan.       2,  1862. 
Nov.    30,  1861. 
Dec.     18,  1861. 
Dec.     14.  1861. 
Nov.     21,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     25,1861. 
Dec.     21,  1861. 
Dec.     30,  1861. 
Oct.       5,  1861. 
Oct.        5,  1861. 
Nov.     20,  1861. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
Jan.      23,  1862. 
Dec.     18,  1861. 
Dec.     20,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec.     30,1861. 
Nov.    27,  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     10,1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Jan.     24,  1862. 
I'ec.     31,1861. 
Dec.       1,  1861. 
Dec.     24,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     20,  1861. 
Jan.     11,1862. 
Nov.     30,  1861. 
Jan.     17,  1862. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Nov.    30,1861. 
Dec.     21,1861. 
Dec.       2,1861. 
Dec.       4,  1861. 
Dec.     31,  1*61. 
Dec.     31,  1861. 
Jan.     24,  1862. 
Dec.     Hi,  1861. 
Dec.     10,  1861. 
Jan.       8,  1862. 
Jan.     24,  1862. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Jan.     16,  1862. 
Jan.     20,  1862. 
Jan.     22,  1862. 

Dec.     23.  1863. 
Dec.     28,  1863. 
Dec.     23,  1863. 

*May   18,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
tSept.  13,  1863. 
tSept.    5,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Tr.Sig.Cps.,'62 
§Dec.  15,  1863. 
HAug.  18,  1862. 
HJuly  19.  1862. 
June    22,  1864. 
*Sept.  30,  1863. 
HMay  15,1863. 
June   22,  1864. 
June    16,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
[IJuly  16,  1863. 
*Xov.  25,  1863. 
1  June  14,  1863. 
June    16,  1862. 
liJuly  22,  1863. 
Sept.      4,  1862. 
June     6,  1862. 
2    - 
!!  July    8,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
||  June  12,  1862. 
June    Id,  l>-62. 
Uune  14,  1863. 
Sept.    24,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
3Oct.      1  ,  1864. 
HFeb.  24,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
March  31,  1863. 
HJune    2,  1862. 
July      5,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
*Mav   18,  1864. 
June     6,  1862. 
June     6,  1862. 
llJune    2,1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 
II  Aug.     6,  1864. 
4April   2,  1864. 
||  Aug.  21,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      6,  1862. 
5July  12,  1863. 
June    16,1862. 
June    28,  1865. 

6Dec.   29,  1864. 
liAug.  12,  1864. 
7Sepr.  22,  1864. 

Eaton   Daniel  W 

Evans,  Lyman  B    

Farmer  George 

Flanders,  Thomas  N  .     .     .     . 
Flint  Abner  N 

Graves,  Geo.  H  
Herrick,  Lucius  C  
Hoit  Benjamin  B  

Howard,  Chester  J     .... 
Howe,  Geo.  R    

Hudson    Arthur     

Hull   Felis  F 

Hull   Francis  S  

Jones  Stephen  H  

Kemp  Oscar      

Kendall  George    . 

Kendall,  Theodore  B      .     .     . 
Kinney,  Andrew  J     .     .     .     . 
Lamb,  Edwin  F     

Lancaster,  Seth  H     .     .     .     . 

Lewi"  David  W     

Luce,  Lyman  P      

Montgomery,  Judson  M     .    . 
Moulton,  Wm.  B   

Parker  Solon    

Parkhurst,  Benj.  F    .    .     .     . 
Plumley  Wm.  D  

Prescott,  Horton    

Quimbv  Henry  S  

Richards,  George   
Richards  Joseph   

Rood   Oliver 

Rotary    Victory     

Russ,  William  W.  B  .     .     .     . 
Russell  Chas.     .         .... 

Sargent   Wallace  

Spear,  Augustus  C     .     .     .     . 
Spear  Edwin     

Sprague  Tyler  E   

Stowe   Melvin 

Sullivan  John  

Sumner,  Samuel  W  .     .     .     . 
Tarbell,  Chas.  G    

Tracy  James     

Tucker,  Marcellus  E      .     .     . 
Twilight  Chas.  B.  P      ... 

Will"*  Bliss  P         

Wood's,  Timothy  N     .    .    .    . 

RECRUITS. 
Arnold,  Benj.  F     
Atwood,  Irving  H  
Austin,  Riley  C      

100 

23 
19 
32 

•Deserted,  t  Wounded  at  Port  Hudson  May  27,  and  died  above  date.  jDied  of  wounds  received 
Sept.  4.  §  Discharged  to  be  commissioned  assistant  surgeon.  IfDropped  from  rolls.  ||Died  of 
disease.  IKilled  at  Port  Hudson.  2Transferred  to  Co.  E;  see  record  there.  31>ied  on  way  to 
hospital  in  Vermont.  4Transferred  to  Signal  Corps.  5Wounded  at  Port  Hudson  July  5,  and 
died  above  date.  6Died  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  7Killed  in  action. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY  G. — Continued. 


307 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Alexander,  Jabez  .    .    . 
Austin,  Geo.  E  .     .    .     . 
Bauzmont,  Leon    .     .    . 
Blanchard,  Adolphus     . 
Brown,  AVrn.  H      .     .    . 
Blake,  Francis  H   .     .    . 
Bradley,  Richard  .     .     . 
Brigtrs,  Henry  H    .     .     . 
Bussce,  Frederick      .    . 
Carmody,  Con    .... 
Cole,  Henry  H  .     .     .    . 
Cov  Chas  C 

44 
30 
31 
21 
23 
18 
23 
23 
18 
27 
19 
23 
28 

11 

21 
26 
22 
29 
44 
18 
34 
26 
23 
29 
22 
20 
41 
39 
33 
18 
35 
23 
25 
28 
21 
21 
18 
35 
21 
27 
44 
27 
24 
18 
18 
26 
26 
30 
21 
26 
30 
18 
18 
42 
22 
35 
39 
21 
25 
21 

Feb.     21,1865. 
Sept.      6,  1864. 
June    20,  1862. 
March  11,  1862. 
June      1,  1862. 
July       6,  1864. 
Aug.     10,  1864. 
Feb.     14,  1865. 
>  July      4,  1864. 
June    17,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1864. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Dec.     29,  1S63. 
Feb.     21,  1865. 
Jan.     26,  1865. 
Dec.     29,  1863. 
Jan.       1,  1864. 
Aug.    23,  1864. 
July       1,  1864. 
Dec.     10,  1863. 
Sept.      5,  1864. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Jan.       2,  1864. 
Dec.     24,  1863. 
Dec.     17,  1863. 
April      6,  1865. 
Aug.      4,  1864. 
Sept.    19,  1864. 
Feb.     15,  1865. 
July       2,  1862. 
Nov.     18,  1863. 
Dec.     28,  1863. 
June    26,  1862. 
Nov.      1,  1863. 
July       1,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1864. 
Dec.     28,  1863. 
Jan.     26,  1865. 
June    23,  1862. 
June      1,  1862. 
Jan.       2,  1864. 
Dec.     10,  1863. 
Nov.       1,  1863. 
Jan.       2,  1864. 
Aug.     18,  1864. 
Dec.     21,  1863. 
Dec.     26,  1863. 
Dec.     21,  1863. 
Feb.     18,  1865. 
Aug.    10,  1864. 
Aug.     12,  1*64. 
Aug.    20,  1864. 
Dec.       8,  1863. 
Aug.     18,  1864. 
Dec.       3,  1863. 
Dec.     17,  1863. 
Dec.       3,  1863. 
July     12,  1864. 
Feb.     20,  1865. 
May     19,  1862. 
Nov.     16,  1863. 

June   28,  1865. 
*Oct.    19,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 
t  April  12,  1863. 
$March7,  1863. 
$Nov.  22,  1864. 
June      1,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1865. 
llJuly  23,  1863. 
June    2s,  1865. 
ITAug.  22,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Uune  10,  1864. 
June   28,  1865. 
June     1,  1865. 
lOct.    16,  1864. 
July       7,  1865. 
June      1,  1865  . 
June    28,  1865. 
1  April  14,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    13,  1865. 
2June  28,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
June     1,  1865. 
Jun«    28,  1865. 
June     1,  1865. 
1  April  29,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
§July  23,  1862. 
2  June  28,  1865. 
SJune  28,  1863, 
IMar.  28,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
§June    1,  1865. 
4June  14,  1863 
$March  7,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
2June28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June     1,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
Tr.  Inv.  corps. 
IFeb.  22,1865. 
June    22.  1.-65. 
June      1,  1865. 
June     1,  1865v 
June      1,  1865. 
June    28,1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
July      7,  1865. 
June    28,  1H>5. 
INov.  27,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 

Culver,  Seymour    .     .     . 
Colby,  Stephen  R  .     .    . 
Collins,  James    .... 
Darling,  Joseph     .     .     . 
Denisou,  Henry  H      .     . 
Dunham,  Win.  C  .     .     . 
Depuys,  Antoine    .     .     . 
Ellis,  Daniel  R.      .    .    . 
Ensworth,  Geo.  W      .     . 
Flanders,  Geo.  W  .     .     . 
George,  Jethro  S    .     .    . 
Gould,  Shubael  .     .     .    . 
Granger  John   .... 

Gibson,  Alexander     .     . 
Green,  Edward  A  ... 
Green   Wm   W 

Griffin,  Joshua  M  .     .     . 
Hackman,  John      .    .    . 
Harlow,  Wm.  AV    .     .    . 
Hatch  John 

Hay  David 

Henry,  John      .... 
Hoezle,  Louis     .... 
Honey,  Amaii  S     .    .    . 
Johnson,  Henry  T      .     . 
Johnson,  James     .    .    . 
Johnston,  William     .     . 
Kean,  Dennis     .... 
Kilbourne,  George     .    . 
Lackey,  Amasa  .... 
Leftredge,  Barney      .    . 
Lyman,  Joel  F  .     .     .     . 
Lesure,  John  G     .     .     . 
Metcalf,  Marquis  L    .     . 
Miller,  Lorenzo  D  .     .     . 
Merrill,  John  F      .     .     . 
Martin,  Aaron  H  .     .     . 
Mitchell,  John  .... 
Montgomery,  Monroe  J 
Moore,  Levi  
Ordway,  Chas.  H   .     .     . 
Negus,  Timothy  O      .    . 
Page,  Joseph  P      ... 
Pierce,  Chas.  A      .    .    . 
Putnam,  Geo.  P     .    .    . 
Pifer,  Peter   

Rauchenberger,  Frederick 
Richards,  Charles  .... 

*Killed  at  Cedar  Creek.    tKilled  at  Bisland.    jShot  by  rebels  while  prisoner.    §Deserted 
[[Wounded  at  Port  Hudson  May  27,  and  died  above  date.    HDied  on  U.  S   Steamer  Mississippi. 
IDied  of  disease.    2Colored  cook.    SWounded  at  Port  Hudson  June  14,  and  died  above  date* 
4Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  ' 


308 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 
COMPANY   G. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

Richards,  True  E  . 

43 

Nov      16  1863 

June    28  1865 

Ryan   Dennis 

25 

June    12   1862 

Rowell  Aaron 

19 

Feb      21   1865 

Smith  Geo  W 

37 

Dec      26*  1863 

Smith  John  A.  Jr 

23 

Dec      24*  1863 

June    28  1865 

Smith,  Josiah 

25 

Dec      17   1863 

Smith,  Monroe 

21 

Nov'     16*  1863 

June    28   1865 

Stevens  Nathaniel  L 

40 

Nov      16   1863 

§April21   1864 

Slack  Chas  I) 

33 

Aug      15   1864 

Stone'  Sardis  G 

40 

Aug      18   1864 

Titus  Henry  H 

19 

Feb      19  1869 

Trask  Reuben  L 

19 

Nov      16   1863 

§April  24  1864 

Thresher  Edwin  F 

24 

Sept       3  1864 

June     1   1865 

Van  Lew,  Lewis 

22 

Jan      20  1865 

June    28  1865 

Wales  Geo  A   .     . 

17 

Dec      30  1863 

16 

May     21   1862 

Webb  Chas  A 

18 

Aug     12  1864 

June      1    1865 

Whitcher  Alfred 

March  16*  1865 

Whitcher  Charles 

24 

March  16*  1865 

Tune    28   1865 

White  Samuel 

19 

March  11  1865* 

Total  
Aggregate  .    .    . 

85 
185 

COMPANY     H,    TOWNSHEND. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

'Capt.,  Henry  F.  Dutton    .    . 
1st  Lieut.,  A'lvin  B.  Franklin 
2d  Lieut.,  Wm.  H.  H.  Holton 

Ludlow   .... 
Newfane      .    .     . 
Jamaica  .... 

24 
23 
20 

Jan.     17.  1862. 
Jan.     17,  1862. 
Jan.     17,  1862. 

UNov.  16,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
1 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st.,  S.  E.  Howard      .... 
Wm.  H.  Smith  . 

Jamaica  .... 
Townshend 

21 

20 

Nov.     19,  1861. 
Nov      19   1861 

2Dec.  9,  1864. 
June  28  1865 

Lemuel  I.  Winslow    .... 
Samuel  H.  Bailey      .    . 

Townshend      .     . 
Townshend 

21 
30 

Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec      28  1861 

3Feb.  12,  1864. 
3Dec  12  1869 

<*eo.  M.  Allard      

Readsboro   . 

28 

Dec      21   1861 

June  22  1864 

CORPORALS. 
•Geo.  M.  Bissell  
Henry  K.  McClure     .     .     . 
Alvin  G.  Higgins  .          .     . 
Joseph  N.  Dunton          .     . 
Hymenius  A.  Davis        .     . 
John  W.  Saunders          .     . 
Gilbert  G.  Milliard          .     . 
•George  W.  Putnam        .    . 

WAGONER. 
Burnell  B  Gate 

/ 
Wardsboro       .     . 
Townshend      .     . 
Brookline    .     .    . 
Townshend      .     . 
Land  grove  .     .     . 
Wardsboro  .     .     . 
Landgrove  .     .    . 
Wardsboro  .    .     . 

34 
31 

25 
23 
18 
31 
40 
25 

25 

Dec.       1,  1861. 
Nov.     22,  1861. 
Dec.     31,  1861. 
Nov.    23.  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Jan.       4,  1862. 
Dec.     16,  1861. 
Jan.       4,  1862. 

Jan        2  186° 

June  28,  1865. 
4June  22,  1*62. 
$Dec.  9,  1863. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
4June  22,  1862. 
§Sept.  14,  1863. 
June  22,  1864. 

5Aug  16  1862 

"Killed  at  Port  Hudson.  ^Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  June  17,  1864,  and  dis 
charged  above  date.  §Died  of  disease.  ([Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  IJFrom 
•wounds  received  at  Winchester,  Sept.  19.  IWounded  June  22, 1862,  and  transferred  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps.  2For  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct.  19.  3Transferred  to  U.  S.  C.  T. 
4Killed  at.Raceland.  5Killed  on  engine. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY  H. —  Continued. 


309 


Name.                   , 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 
Akeley,  Clark  B    
Akeley,  Willard  H    .... 
Aldrieh  Milo  1)     .     . 

Brattleboro      .     . 
Brattleboro      .  •  . 
Readsboro  .     .     . 

27 
19 
24 

Jan.  13,  1862. 
Feb.  3,  1862. 
Dec.  21,  1861. 

*Oct.  1,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 

Allen,  Jonathan  V     .... 
Barker,  Augustus      .... 
Bartlett  Charles 

Winhall  .... 
Whitingham    .    . 
Townshend      . 

20 
20 
20 

Jan.  30,  1862. 
Feb.  1,  1862. 
Jan.  23,  1862. 

tOct.  19,  1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
jMay  27,  1863. 

Blood,  Oliver     
Bowker,  Wilbur  F     .     .     .    . 
Boyd   Francis  J     

Landgrove  .    .    . 
Peru    
Readsboro  .    .    . 

24 
20 
24 

Jan.  15,  1802. 
Dec  17,  1861. 
Jan.  7,  1862. 

June  22,  1^64. 
iMay  27,  1863. 
June  22,  1864. 

Boynton,  Myron  L     .    .     .     . 
Brown,  Charles      

Jamaica  .... 
Rockingham    .     . 
Whitingham 

23 

18 
23 

Jan.  17,  1862. 
Jan.  16,  1862. 
Jan.  17,  1862. 

June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 

Bush,  Alonzo  P      
Childs  Samuel  S 

Brookline    .     .    . 
Landgrove  . 

18 
18 

Jan.  25,  1862. 
Dec.  30  1861. 

§Aug.  26,  1862. 
||Nov.  28,  1864. 

Clough,  George      
Cook  Calvin  Li 

Stratton  .... 
Wardsboro 

30 
18 

Jan.  13,  1862. 
Dec.  17,  1861 

June  28,  1865. 
June  22  1864. 

Crocker,  Henry  W     .     .     .     . 
Crowley  Xoah  S 

Athens         .     .     . 

3'2 
40 

Dec.  27,  1861. 
Jan  6  1862 

JJune  14,  1863. 
June  28,  1865. 

Cutler,  Chas.  A      

Brookline    .    .    . 

26 

Jan.  13,  1862. 

June  5,  1863. 

Darling  Cha**  H 

Jamaica 

28 

Dec  10  1861 

June  28,  1865 

Davis,  Arthur  C    
Davis  Otis  A. 

Wilmington     .     . 
Landgrove  . 

18 

18 

Nov.  25,  1861. 
Dec  13  1861. 

June  27,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 

Dean,  Chas.  A  
Dean,  Theodore  L      .    .    .    . 
Derry  Benj.  F  

Woodstock  .    .    . 
Woodstock  .    .     . 

18 
24 
33 

Jan.  6,  1862. 
Dec.  16,  1861. 
Jan.  15,  1862. 

June  22,  1864. 
Aug.  14,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 

Dodge,  Randolph  
Evan**    \lbert  O 

Grafton   .... 

23 

18 

Jan.  8,  1862. 
Dec  18  1861 

June  22,  1864. 
H\ov  9  1864 

Fairbanks,  Luzern     .... 
Faulkner,  Eli  J      
Gates  John  E        

Whitingham    .     . 
Londonderry  .    . 

18 
18 
23 

Jan.  29,  1862. 
Nov.  28,  1861. 
Dec  9  1861 

Nov.  25,'  1863* 
June  27,  1862. 
June  28  1865 

Hale  Albert  T       

Readsboro        .    . 

23 

Dec.  21,  1861 

§July  19,  1862. 

Harlow,  Dexter  I       .... 
Harrington,  Geo.  B   .    .     .    . 
Harris,  Ronianzo  A  .... 
Harvey,  Lyruan  H     ..... 
Haynes,  Newell  F      .    .    .    . 
Henry,  James  M    

Land  grove  .    .     . 
Windham    .    .    . 
AViudham    .    .     . 
Strattou  .... 
Wilmington     .    . 
Townshend 

19 
18 
19 

18 
20 
18 

Dec.  13,  1861. 
Feb.  3,  1862. 
Jan.  13,  1862. 
Jan.  10,  1862. 
Dec.  17,  1861. 
Jan  17,  1862. 

June  22,  1864. 
June  28.  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
§Oct  15  1862 

Hodgkins,  Merrill  L       .     .     . 
Holt,  Lovell  S    

Wardsboro  .     .     . 
Readsboro  . 

20 
31 

Dec.  6,  1SG1. 
Jan  13  1802. 

June  28,  1865. 
June  28  1865. 

Howard,  Hardin  W  .     .     .    . 
Howard,  Horace  W  .     .     .    . 
Howard,  Win.  H.  H       ... 
Ingalls,  Wm  H     

Townshend      .    . 
Jamaica  .... 
Townshend 

18 
21 
22 
21 

Dec.  2,  1861. 
Jan.  8,  1862. 
Nov.  29,  1861. 
Dec  6  1861. 

Sept.  13,  1863. 
June  28,  1865. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  27  1862 

33 

Dec  23  1861 

June  22  1864 

Kilburn,  Henry  A     .... 
Lee  Edwin  P         ... 

Wardsboro  .     .     . 

23 
21 

Jan.  1,  1862. 
Dec  21  1861 

June  28,  1865. 
June  96  1865 

Lincoln,  Matthias  J  .     .     .     . 
Lon°r  Joseph  Madison 

Stratton  .... 
Peru             . 

18 
18 

Jan.  9,  1862. 
Dec  18  1861 

July  11,  1864. 
Nov  20  1862 

Mack  Daniel 

Windham 

18 

Dec  16  1^61 

June  ''8  1865 

Merri'tield,  Albert  H      .     .     . 
Miller,  Ransom  B      .... 
Oaks,  Ebenezer,  Jr   .    .    .    . 
Orrusbv,  Geo  E     

Brookline    .     .    . 
Westminster   .    . 
Athens    .... 
Townshend 

19 
18 
31 
18 

Nov.  29,  1861. 
Jan.  18,  181)2. 
Feb.  13,  1862. 
Dec  3  1861 

June  -2$,  1865. 
Nov.  20,  1862. 
§Oct.  15,  1862. 
tOct  19  1864 

Peck  Joseph  H 

28 

Jan  3l'  1869 

June  28  1865 

Perry,  Wm.  W.,  Jr    .     .     .     . 
Pettee,  Waitstill  R    .    .    .    . 
Porter,  Newton  H     .     .    .    . 
Pufter,  Henry    
Putnam,  Dana  P        .... 

Brookline    .     .    . 
Wardsboro  .     .    . 
Townshend      .    . 
Readsboro  .    .     . 
Stratton  .... 

21 
18 
20 

18 
22 
18 

Jan.  6,  3862. 
Dec.  10,  1861. 
Jan.  18,  1862. 
Jan.  20,  1862. 
Jan.  10,  1862. 
Dec  19  1861 

1  June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 
Feb.  21,  1865. 
June  28,  1865. 
Oct.  31,  1862. 
June  92  1864 

Putnam,  Henry  H     .    .     .    . 
Putnam,  Sidney  C     .     .    .    . 

Stratton  .... 
Stratton  .... 

21 
19 

Feb.  3,  18(»2. 
Dec.  12,  1861. 

Oct.  18,  1862. 
April  7,  1864. 

*  Wounded  June  22,  and  discharged  above  date,  t  Killed  at  Cedar  Creek.  $Killed  at  Port 
Hudson.  §Died  of  disease.  HWounded  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  died  from  same  above  date. 
IT  Wounded  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct.  19,  and  died  above  date.  IWounded  April  12,  1863  ;  mustered 
out  above  date. 


3io 


THE     EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY  H. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

• 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Wardsboro 

21 

Dec      20  1861 

June    22  1864 

Reed,  ElbrHge  J  
Richardson,  Lowell  M   .    .     . 
Shine   Myron  M     .    . 

Grafton   .    .    . 
Londonderry   . 
Townshend 

18 
18 
27 

Dec.     14,'  1801.' 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec      28  1861 

June    27,  1862. 
*June  22,  1865. 
June    28   1865 

Smith   Arnold  Al 

43 

Jan        6  1862 

Uune      '  1863 

Smith   Robert  H   

Wardsboro 

22 

Dec.       6  1861 

June    2°   1864* 

Smith    Stillmaii 

18 

Dec      19  1861 

i  June  2f>  1864 

Stickney,  Warren  B  .    .     .     . 
Stowe,  Henry  J     
Thompson,  John  M   .     .     .     . 
Toby   Henry  A           .         . 

Brookline    .     . 
Wilmington     . 
Landgrove  .     . 
Whitingham 

23 

22 
18 
18 

Nov.     19,  1861. 
Dec.     17,  1861. 
Dec.     13,  1861. 
Jan        7  1862 

Sept.    23,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 
Nov.     30,  1862  . 
•June    °7   1862 

Twomblv   Albert  J    .     .     .     . 

Windhain    . 

18 

Dec       18  1861. 

§Jan    17  1863 

Upham,  Bradford  H 
Wellnmn.  Marshall  W  .     .     . 
White,  Alvin  H 

Windham    .     . 
Brookline    .    . 
Wardsboro 

18 
18 
21 

Nov.     30,  1861. 
Jan.      13,  1862. 
Dec      17  1861 

June    22,  1864. 
*June  22,  1862. 
June    22  1864 

White,  Cvrua  M     .    .     .     . 
White  Ira  M 

Wardsboro  .     . 
Wardsboro 

23 
22 

Dec.     16,1861. 
Dec       13  1861 

June    22,  1864. 
June    22   1864 

Wood   AndrewJ 

23 

Dec       14   1861 

HJuly  27   1862 

RECRUITS. 
Bergin,  Geo.  I)      .     . 

Total  

97 
21 

Dec      11   1863 

June    28  1865 

Bissell  Lucius  W 

30 

Dec      30  1863 

Julv     17    1865 

Brimhall,  Fred  F 

18 

Dec      22  1863 

June    28*  1865 

Brown   Benj.  P 

37 

Feb      14  1865 

June    28   1865 

Brown,  Marvin  M 

19 

Dec      17  1863 

June    28*  1865 

Brown   Lansford  H   . 

21 

Dec      10  1863 

§Mav  24  1865 

Butler,  Herbert  J 

18 

Jan        4,  1864 

ITJuiy  13'  1864 

Booth,  -William 

38 

Jan        6  1865 

June    28,  1865 

Bartlett,  Milton  E     . 

23 

Feb        6  1865 

June    28   1865 

Bates,  Frankford  H 

25 

Sept     12  1864 

Mav     22  1865 

Canedy,  Simon      .     . 

18 

Jan        2  1864 

June    28  1865. 

Church,  Krastus  3) 

19 

Dec      18  1863 

June    28   1865 

Cook,  Palmedus  F 

18 

Jan      16,  1865 

June    28  1865 

Davis,  Henry  F 

18 

Sept       3  1862 

June    28  1865 

Perry,  Ormando  C     . 

29 

Dec        4  1863 

June    28,  1865 

Eaton  Chauncv  C 

22 

Dec      17  1863 

June    28   1865 

Fish,  Walter  W     .     . 

44 

Dec.       4  1863 

$  April  25,  1864 

Frasa,  Joseph    . 

28 

June    25  1862 

May     25  1865 

Frascovia  James 

29 

Jan        7  1863 

June    28  1865 

Graves,  Joseph  J)      . 

29 

Dec      10   1863 

June    28   1865 

Greene  Luther  A 

Feb      25  1863 

Greene,  Edward  H 

18 

Feb      10  1865 

June    28  1865 

Harlow,  Horace 

38 

Feb       16  186') 

July       1   1865 

Holland,  Chas.  H 

23 

Sept       1   1864' 

June      1  1865 

Hooper,  James      .    . 

39 

Jan        5  1865 

June    28  1865 

Jackson,  Willis     . 

24 

Aug      30   1863 

Uune  10  1864 

Jenkins,  Herbert  W 

23 

Sept     12  1864 

June      1   1865 

Kelley,  Frank  J    .    . 

18 

Feo      13*  1865 

June    28  1865 

Kidder,  Washburn  A 

20 

Sept       1   1864 

June      1   1865 

Kilburn,  Nathaniel  A 

22 

Sept       5  1864 

§Mar.  11   1865. 

Lee,  Alfred  A        .    . 

18 

Dec      16  1863 

June    28  1865 

Lee  Anson  W 

31 

Dec      18  1863 

June    28   1865 

Lincoln,  Matthias 

19 

Dec      19  1863 

§April  6   1864. 

Lewis,  Edwin  E     .     . 
Marlboro  Thomas 



21 
19 

Feb.      9,  1865. 
Apr      29  1864 

June   28,  1865. 
June    28  1865 

Martin  Anselni 

17 

May     21,  1862 

June    28  1865 

19 

July       4    1862 

June      1    1865 

18 

Dec      31*  1863 

June    28  1865 

Parsons,  Wm    H    . 

18 

Feb      13  1864 

June    28,  1865 

Pierce,  Geo  H 

23 

Dec      10  1863 

June    28  1865 

Prouty  Fred  M 

18 

Dec        1   1863 

2  June  28   1865 

•Killed  at  Raceland.  tD.eserted.  ^Discharged  for  promotion  in  2d  La.  Volunteers.  §I)ied 
of  disease.  ||  Wounded  June  22,  and  died  above  date.  ITDied  on  steamer  for  Washington. 
IColored  cook ;  died  of  disease.  2Drummer. 


ORIGINAL     ROSTER. 
COMPANY  H. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

18 

Dec      19  1863 

June    28   1865 

20 

Feb      13  1865. 

May     23,  1865 

18 

Jan      26  1865 

June    2*   1865 

Pratt  Geo  "M 

2G 

Feb        8  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

21 

Sept       2  1864. 

June      1,  1865 

20 

Aug.    30,  1864. 

*Date  unkn'wn 

Reed   Wm   H 

28 

July       3   1862 

tNov    20   1864 

26 

Dec.       7   1»63. 

June    28   1865. 

23 

Jan        7   1863 

June    28   1865 

Russell   Obidiah  X 

23 

Aug       4  1*64. 

June      1,  1865. 

Rvder  Robert 

31 

Feb        6.  1865. 

Feb.       6,  1S65. 

GO 

May     21    1862 

"July     6  1864 

Smith    William 

60 

Aug.    30,  1863. 

SJune  28,  1865. 

Smith   William 

20 

May     21,1862 

j|  Promoted 

29 

Sept.    10,  1862. 

June      1,  1865. 

18 

Aug      26   1864 

June      1   1865 

Stocker  Daniel  M 

20 

Sept       1   1864. 

June      1,  1865 

19 

Aug.    28   1864 

June     1   1865 

25 

Feb       13,  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

Wellman  Merrill  W 

18 

Dec      14  1*63 

June    14  1865 

William's  Geo  A 

23 

Jan.       5  1864 

May     13,  1865 

Williams  John 

17 

Aug      30   1863 

§Jiine  28  1865 

Wood   Albert  P 

21 

Dec        3,  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Wray  Oscar  H 

18 

Feb      22,  1865 

*April    8   1865 

White  Cyrus  M 

23 

Sept       1    1864 

June      1,  1865 

White'  G'eo  A 

23 

Sept.      1,  1864. 

June      1,  1865. 

Total  
Aggregate   .    .    . 

67 
164 

COMPANY    I,    MARLBORO. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,  Wm.  W.  Lynde  .    .    . 
1st  Lieut.,  Geo.  N.  Holland    . 
2d  Lieut.,  Joshua  C.  Morse    . 

Marlboro     .     .     . 
Newfaiie      .    .     . 
Newfane      .    .    . 

34 

27 
30 

Jan.     17,  1862. 
Jan.     17,  1862. 
Jan.     17,  1862. 

HOct.    18,1862. 
liOct.  25,  1862. 
11  July  10,  1863. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEAXTS. 
1st.,  Geo.  E.  Selleck  .... 
Edward  R.  Pratt   
Oscar  W.  Richardson     .    .     . 
Thomas  F.  Betterly  .... 
Lewis  Brayman     

CORPORALS. 
Edward  P.  Gregory  .... 
Bonaparte  Hudson    .... 
Rufus  C    Thorn 

Brattleboro 
Putney    .    . 
Brattleboro 
Newfane 
Marlboro     . 

Guilford      . 
Newfane 
Guilford 

27 
23 
28 
24 

35 
20 
26  ' 

Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Nov.    26,  1861. 

Jan.       4,  1862. 
Nov.    30,  1861. 
Nov     21   1861 

Feb.     26,  1865. 
Uune  14,  1863. 
2June  22,  1864. 
JJune  31,  1863. 
Feb.           1863, 

June    22,  1864. 
*May  24,  ?862. 
June    28  1865 

Henry  H.  Black         .         .     . 

Putney 

20 

Nov       9  1861. 

Feb      28   1863 

Francis  E.  Warren    .... 
Otis  L.  Brown   
Lewis  H.  Lamb 

Newfane 
Putney 
Wilmington 

23 
21 

18 

Dec.     23,  1861. 
Dec.     11,  1861. 
Dec      16  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
April    16,  1864. 
3Oct     19   1864 

Walter  J.  Parker  .    . 

Putney  " 

18 

Dec        9  1861 

June    28  1865 

*Died  of  disease.  tDied  from  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct.  19,  1864.  JDeserted. 
Colored  cook.  ([Promoted  in  2d  La.  Volunteers.  ^Resigned.  IKilled  at  Port  Hudson. 
Dlerk  at  headquarters  19th  Army  Corps.  SKilled  at  Cedar  Creek. 


312 


THE     EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY   I. —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

MUSICIANS. 
Geo  F.  Plummet           .         . 

Marlboro     . 

17 

Dec        2   1861 

June    98  1865 

William  F.  Forbush  .... 

WAGONER. 
Benjamin  F.  Davis    .... 

PRIVATES. 

Newfane.    .     .    . 
Brattleboro     .     . 
Newfane 

15 
34 
25 

Jan.     13,  1862. 
Jan.       4,  1862. 
Dec      11   1861 

July     15,  1862. 
July     15,  1862. 
Tnnp    22    18fU 

Arling  Solomon  S  . 

Dover           . 

34 

Dec        s'  1861 

*July  23  1863 

Baldwin,  Alpbonzo  D    .    .     . 
Baldwin,  Henry  G    .     . 

Dover  
Dover      .             . 

18 
23 

Dec.     30,  1861. 
Dec.     17  1861 

June    22J  18641 
June    2^  1864 

Bartlett,  Clarence  A     ... 
Bemis,  Leonard  C      .... 
Betterly,  Alfred  A    .... 
Betterly,  Geo.  S    

Newfane.    .    .    . 
Newfane      .     .     . 
Newfane      . 

19 
36 
19 
19 

Feb.      7;  1862. 
Nov.    30,  1861. 
Nov.    29,  1861. 
Nov.    30  1861 

June    28^  186sl 
tApril  25,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
May       4  1863 

Betterly,  Gilbert  W  .    .    .     . 
Bishop  Geo  J  

Newfane.    .    .    . 
Marlboro 

18 
19 

Jan.     13,  1862. 
Dec.       7  1861 

July     le',  1862*. 

•(- 

Black  James  F              .         . 

18 

Nov     21   1861 

^Sept   19  1864 

Blashtield,  Henry  C  .    .    .    . 
Bolan   Patrick  .                       . 

Newfane.    .    .    . 

18 
20 

Dec.       2,  1861. 
Feb        7  1862 

{Jane  14*  1863*. 
June    28   1865 

Brown,  Clark    .... 

Newfane  .             . 

23 

Dec        3*  1861 

July     17   1863 

Brown   Frank                 . 

18 

Jan      16  1862 

Sept     21*  1863* 

Putney 

20 

Dec      11,  1861 

June    28   1865 

Burrows,  Geo.  P    
Carlton,  Byron  
Carpenter,  Elon  B     .    .    .    . 
Carr  Michael     .     .         ... 

Guilford.    .    .    . 
Newfane  .... 

22 
18 
18 
31 

Dec.     14,  1861. 
Feb.       7,  1862. 
Dec.       2,  1861. 
Dec      20  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      6  1863 

Cattley,  Andrew    
Charter,  Samuel             .    . 

Guilford.    .    .    . 
Newfano  .    *         * 

21 

32 

Dec.       7,  1861. 
Jan      16  1862 

June    22,  1864. 
I'June  22   1864 

Church    Henry 

33 

Dec        5  1861 

Tune    2°  1864 

Davis,  Eros  L    
Davis  Hiram                   . 

Newfane  .... 

18 
44 

Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec        9  1861 

UMar.  18,  1862. 
July     15  1862 

Dowes  Henry  W  

Newfane  . 

18 

Nov     28  1861 

June    98  1865 

Eddy,  Geo.  P     
Fisher  Edmund    

Whitingham    .    . 
Guilford 

25 
43 

Dec.       9,  1861. 
Jan      24  1862 

June    28,  1865. 
jSept  10  1864 

Gates,  Alvin  

Newfane  .... 
Wilmington     .     . 

21 
31 

Nov.    28,  1861. 
Dec      17   1861 

June    28,  1865. 
June    22   1864 

Gray  Miron 

18 

Dec      17  1861 

IMay   24*  1864 

Gregory,  Stephen       . 

Guilford  .         .    . 

44 

Jan.      4  186^ 

*June  °4  1863 

Grover,  Eleazer     .... 

Guilford  .... 

34 

Feb.       2,  1862. 

June    28  1865. 

Hescock,  Oscar  B  .     .     .     . 
Higley  Elliott  J 

Marlboro 

18 
20 

Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec        7  1861 

2 
Oct       15  186° 

Hill  Elbridge  G         ... 

44 

Feb.       7  1861? 

*June  13  1863 

Hines  Isaac  H 

28 

Nov     27  1861 

June    28   1865 

Hough  ton,  Charles  E      .    .     . 
Howard,  A  rial  
Howard,  Wm.  E    .    .     .    . 

Marlboro     .     .    . 
Brattleboro     .    . 
Brattleboro 

22 
38 
23 

Dec.       7,  1861. 
Dec.       3,  1861. 
Jan      25   1862 

July    30,'  1863! 
Feb.       2,  1864. 
Oct       15   1862 

Howe,  John  C        ... 

Brattleboro 

18 

Dec      28  1861 

July     15  1862 

Ingrain,  Chas.  E    
Kerr  Alonzo  D               .         . 

Newfane.    .    .    . 
Putney 

18 
23 

Dec.      6,  1861.' 
Nov     30  18(il 

Sept.    30,  1863. 

Newfane          .    . 

27 

Nov      27*  1861 

*Mar    10,  1863 

Leonard,  Horace  C             . 

Dover           .     . 

18 

Dec        7  1861 

Oct       15   1862 

Martin   Daniel 

18 

Dec      °7  1861 

June    28  1865 

Merrill,  Eleazep  D    .    .    .     . 
Mor*,  Luke  J  
Movnehein,  Humphrey     .    . 
Park  Otis 

Newfane.    .    .    . 
Brattleboro     .    . 

43 
23 
26 
20 

Nov.      7,  1861. 
Nov.    27,  1861. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec        6  1861 

Feb.     28J  1863. 
June    2'J,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
Nov           1863 

Peavey,  Augustus  C.    .    .    . 
Phillips,  Chas.  F   

Newfane  .... 
Putney    .... 
Halifax    . 

18 
18 
36 

Nov.    30*  186l! 
Nov.    28,  1861. 
Nov.    12,  1861. 

Nov.     28,  1862. 
3Oct.    19,  1864. 
Aug.     14   1864. 

Prouty  Harvey 

Marlboro 

32 

Nov     12  1861 

June    °8  1865 

Head  Charles 

18 

Dec        2   1861 

fMar      1    1864 

*Died  of  disease.  tTransferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  ^Killed  at  Winchester.  §Killed 
at  Port  Hudson.  ||Wagoner.  TDied  on  ship  Wallace.  IDeserted.  2Date  of  discharge  not 
given.  SKilled  at  Cedar  Creek. 


ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 
COMPANY   I. —  Continued. 


313 


Name. 

Residence.  • 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Rice  Orrin  L         

Wardsboro  .    .     . 

18 

Dec.     26,  1861. 

*Aug.  21,  1862. 

Rice,  Romauzo  G  
Richardson,  Thomas      .    .    . 
Sawyer,  Willard  W  .    .    .    . 

Smith  Almoii  S    .              .     . 

Wardsboro  .     .    . 
Wilmington     .    . 
Putney    .... 

22 
28 
18 
21 

Dec.     12,  1861. 
Dec.     29,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec.       9  1861. 

June    28,  1865. 
Jan.           1863. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 

Smith,  Amos  F  

Marlboro     .    .    . 
Putney    .... 

30 

18 

Dec.       3,  18(1. 
Dec.       9  1861. 

July     30,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

Smith   Henry  J          . 

Putney    .... 

19 

Dec        9  1861. 

June    28  1865. 

Smith,  Homer  E    
Smith   William      

18 
43 

Dec.       8,  1861, 

Feb        7   1862 

June    28,  1865. 
t 

Strattcm,  Asa  H         .         .     . 

Newfane.    .    .    . 

22 

Jan      16,  1862. 

June    22,  1864. 

Sullivan,  Timothy     .... 
Thomas,  Albert  H     .     .    .    . 
Tooley  David  A             . 

Whitingham    .    . 

18 
39 
43 

Feb.       8,  1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec        9  1862 

$Dec.     2,  1863. 
§Mar.     1,  1864. 
*Aug    30,  1863. 

Tyler,  Stephen  M  
Tyler  Lewis  A  . 

Wardsboro 

28 
24 

Feb.       7,  1862. 
Dec        3  1861 

June    22,  1864. 
July     15,  1862. 

Ward  Austin  H    .     .         .     . 

Brattleboro     .     . 

21 

Dec.       7,  1861 

June    28,  1865. 

Warner,  Frank  R  .     .     .     . 
Webster,  Oscar  N     .    .     . 
Wheeler,  Allen  INI     ... 
Whittaker,  Foster  S     .    . 
Whitney,  Porter  J    .     .     . 
Wood  Chester  N            .    . 

Newfane.    .    .    . 

Marlboro     .     .    . 
Marlboro     .    .     . 
Brattleboro     .     . 

22 
27 
18 
23 
21 
20 

Jan.     13,  1862. 
Dec.       3,  1861. 
Dec.     18,  1861. 
Nov.    22,  1861. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 
Feb      10  1862. 

June    28,  1865. 
Oct.      15,  1862. 
tMay  18,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 
HJune  11,  1863. 
June    28,  1865. 

Wood  Lewis  A      .         .    . 

Brattleboro      . 

18 

Feb        6  1862 

*Aug    17   1863. 

Woodman,  John  P    .    .     .     . 
Worden  Alfred  S                    . 

Brattleboro     .     . 
Marlboro     .     .    . 

28 
21 

Jan'.       1,  1862. 
Dec        9  1861 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28  1865. 

Worden,  Francis  N    .... 

Marlboro     .    .    . 

18 

Dec.     19,  1861. 

*June  23,  1862. 

RECRUITS. 
Bartlett  Justin 

Total  

101 
44 

Dec      28   1  863 

June    28   1865 

Bin<*ham   Albert  H 

21 

Jan        2  1864 

tjuly  14   1864 

29 

Dec'       9*  1863 

June    28  1865. 

Blood  Cha's  J 

20 

Dec        4  1863 

USept  19'  1864 

33 

May     20'  1862 

£Dec      3  1862 

39 

Jan        2  1864 

June    28   1865 

Brown   Chas  F 

27 

Dec        7  1863 

June    28  1865 

20 

Jan        4  1864 

*Sept     3  1864 

43 

Sept       1    1864 

June      1   1865. 

Bell   Henry  C    . 

oo 

Feb      13  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

26 

Sept      3  1864 

June      1  1865 

Brown  Clark  L 

26 

March  6  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

Colburn  Elbridge  G 

18 

Dec      31  '  1863 

June    28   1865 

Carroll  Henry  W 

21 

Feb      14  1865 

*June  19  1865. 

Davi6*  Charles 

23 

Dec        3   1863 

June    98  1865. 

Davis  Solomon          . 

39 

March  4  1865 

June    98,  1865. 

Dunklee  Willard  S  . 

37 

Sept.     7  1864 

*Mar    17,  1865. 

Estabrooks  Sidney  J 

19 

Aug      11    1864 

June    28  1865. 

Fairbanks  Wayland  E 

21 

Dec      24  1863 

*Jan    °5  1865. 

Fletcher,  Joseph  W  , 

21 

Jan        1   1864 

May     26  1865. 

Ford  Albro  V  B 

20 

Dec      29  1863 

June    28   1865. 

Fitts  Elmer 

26 

Sept       l'  1864' 

June      1   1865. 

Fox  Sylvester 

18 

May     °1   1864 

June    °8  1865. 

Glidden  Milo  H 

23 

March  15*  1865* 

JJune    1   1865. 

35 

^ept       5  1864 

June      1   1865. 

Hagar  Daniel  W 

18 

Dec        4  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Hill  Herbert  E 

17 

Dec        9  1863 

June    ^8  1865. 

Houghton   Bradley  Jr 

°7 

Dec      os'  1863 

May     25  1865. 

Howard,  George    .    . 

18 

Dec.     28*  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Hall,  Emery  W 

18 

Feb        7  1865 

June    28,  1865. 

Higley,  Wrn  M 

35 

Sept       7   1864 

June      1    1865. 

Ingram,  Chas.  E    .    . 

21 

Aug*    10*  1864. 

May     13  1865. 

Ingram   John  H    .    . 

19 

Aug      15   1864 

June    28   1865 

*Died  of  disease.    tDied  at  New  Orleans.     tDeserted.    §Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps.    ||  Killed  at  Port  Hudson.    HKilled  at  Winchester. 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 
COMPANY  I. — Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Ingram   Jonathan  M 

38 

Aug.    10  1864 

June    28  1865 

18 

Dec      21   1863 

*Sept   19  1864 

Johnson   Luther  R 

18 

Dec.     21    1863. 

July     31   1865 

27 

Mar      15  1865 

tJune    1   1865 

Jones   Emory  S 

18 

Sept      1   1864. 

June      1,  1865 

23 

Mar     11   1865. 

Kerr  Warren  W 

21 

Dec      10   1863 

May     25  1865 

21 

Sept     25   1863 

June    28*  1865 

Kelley,  John  D 

18 

Feb.     10',  1865 

June    28,  1865 

King  Wallace  D  . 

25 

Mar        8,  1865 

June    28  1865 

Kirk,  John    . 

19 

Feb.     10,  1865. 

June    28,  1865. 

Kirk  Richard 

19 

Feb        6  -1865. 

June    28  1865 

" 

07 

May     20  Is69 

tDec      3   1862 

Leonard,  John 

25 

July     24  1862. 

tAug.    2   1863 

May  Sidney  L 

19 

Dec      21   1863 

June    28  1865 

Mills.  Alonzo 

21 

Dec      24,  1863. 

§Oct.    19,  1864 

Mills  Daniel  B 

22 

Dec      12  1863 

June    28  1865 

Myers,  Jacob 

27 

Aug       6,  1862 

tJuly     5   1864 

18 

Dec        5  1863 

June    28,  1865 

Parker,  Solomon  S 

19 

Aug.    30,  1862. 

HJurie  28,  1865. 

Parsons  Samuel  L 

31 

Dec      22  1863 

Nov     16  1864 

Phillips,  Hiram  O 

23 

Dec      15,  1863. 

HJune  28,  1864. 

Phinney  Detroit 

26 

Jan        2,  1864 

June    °s   1865 

Pierce,  Walter  W 

Dec.       6,  1863 

*Sept.  19,  1864. 

Plummer  Geo  F 

Mar       1,  1864. 

No  record. 

*    ' 

16 

July      2  1862 

June      1   1865 

Perkins  John  Vansl 

v 

21 

Mar.    15  1865 

June    28  1865 

Plumb  Ezra  W 

29 

Sept      5  1864 

June      1  1865 

Powers  Lewellyn 

19 

Feb      10  1865 

June    17,  1865. 

• 

19 

Sept      6  1864 

UMar   11  1865 

Shelley  Leroy 

21 

Sept.    24  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

25 

Aug     30  1863 

ljune  11   1864 

Stearns  Henry  M 

19 

Dec.     14,  1863 

June    28,  1865. 

Steward  William 

30 

Aug      30   1863 

Uuly     5  1864. 

Townshend  Lewis  J 

'    " 

23 

Dec      16  1863. 

June     2  1864. 

Whitney  James  P 

18 

Dec      10  1863 

June    28  1865. 

Warner  James  M 

22 

Sept.     5  1864. 

June    28,  1865. 

' 

20 

Feb        6,  1865 

June    28,  1865 

Williams,  Geo   C  . 

*    ' 

18 

Sept.     6,  1864. 

June    28,  1865 

Woodcock  A  bra  H 

21 

Mar       4  1865 

June    28,  1S65. 

Total       .    .    . 

73 

Aggregate   .    .    . 

174 

COMPANY    K,    LUNENBURG. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 

Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Capt.,  John  S.  Clark      .    .    . 
1st  Lieut.,  Adoni'm  J.  Howard 
2d  Lieut.,  Geo.  F.  French 

Lunenburg       .     . 
Brighton      .     .     . 
Lunenburg      .     . 

39 
29 
31 

Jan.     22,  1862. 
Jan.     22,  1862. 
Jan.     22,  1862. 

2Mar.  20,  1863. 
UNov.  18,  1862. 
3  June  21,  1863. 

*Killed  at  Winchester.  tDeserted.  t Dishonorably  discharged.  §Killed  at  Cedar  Creek. 
HColored  cook.  HDied  of  disease.  IColored  cook,  deserted.  2Died  at  Hospital  Hotel  Dieu, 
New  Orleans.  3Resigued. 


ORIGIN  A  L    ROS  TER. 
COMPANY  K. —  Continued. 


315 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

SERGEANTS. 
1st.  Andrew  J.  Sargent      .     . 
Marshall  W.  Wright      .     .     . 
Perry  Porter,  Jr    

Barnet    .... 

Lunenburg       .     '. 
Sutton     .... 
Gran  by    .... 

28 
22 
19 
26 

. 
Feb.     13,1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec.     16,1861. 

Feb.  26,  1865. 
July  5,  1862. 
June  28,  1865. 
Feb.  26,  1865. 

Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

CORPORALS. 
Albert  Hill    
Myron  C.  Newton      .         .     . 
George  D.  Oilman     .         .    . 
Alonzo  L.  Ford      .     . 
John  Petrie  ....         .     . 
Channcev  M.  Snow    .         .     . 
George  W   Hill 

Concord  .... 
Lunenburg  .     .     . 
Brighton      .     .     . 
Granby    .... 
Brighton      .     .     . 
Lunenburg  .     .     . 

32 
29 
31 
24 
22 
25 
20 

Dec.     19,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Dec.     14,  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 

July  5,  1862. 
July  5,1862. 
June  22,1864. 
*Sept.  3,  1863. 
tOct.  21,1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
June  28,  1865. 

John  Elkins                .... 

Sheffield  ..... 

26 

Jan.     16,  1862. 

June  28,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 
Nathan  C.  Cheney      .... 
Martin  J.  Pond           .... 

Lunenburg  .    .    . 
Lunenburg  .     .     . 

35 
35 

Dec.       9,  1861. 
Dec        9,  1861. 

tOct.  21,1864. 
Oct.  23,  1862. 

WAGONER. 
Wesley  H.  Day      .... 

PRIVATES. 
Adams,  Geo.  S  
Aldrich   Hosea 

Lunenburg  .     .    . 

Lunenburg  .     .    . 
Concord  .... 

22 

23 
19 

Dec.       9,  1861. 

Jan.     13,  18G2. 
Dec.     27,  1861. 

JJuly  12,  1863. 

June  22,  1864. 
June  22,  1864. 

Al.lrich,  John  H    
Babb   Richard                 .    .     . 

Concord  .... 
Charleston  .    . 

18 
18 

Dec.     25,  1861. 
Jan.       9,  1862. 

*Mar.  18,  1863. 
June  28.  1865. 

Bacon,  Geo.  W      
Barnes  David  A             . 

Brattleboro      .    . 

44 
43 

Feb.     10,  1862. 
Feb.     15,  1862. 

July  5,  1862. 
July  5,  1862. 

Bartlett,  Chas.  W      .... 
Bates,  Geo  D 

Guildhall     .     .    . 
Guildhall     . 

18 
19 

Jan.     18,  1862. 
Jan.     18,  1862 

*Nov.  29,  1862. 
*Nov.  9,  1862 

Bigelow,  Lewis  F  
Blake  Edga1"  R              ... 

Brighton      .     .    . 
Barton 

22 

18 

Jan.       1,  1862 
Dec.     25  1861 

June  28,  1865. 
July  5,  1862 

Bovce,  John  W     .     .     . 
Boyce,  Richard  T       .    . 
Bunker,  William  B   .    . 
Burt,  Chas  C    .     .     .     . 
Buzzell,  Solon  D    .     .    . 
Carroll,  Charles  R     .    . 
Chase   Wm.  E  

Granby    .... 
Granby    .... 
Newark  .... 
Lyndon  .... 
Granby    .... 
Newark  .... 
Lunenburg  .    .     . 

18 
44 
32 
23 
25 
21 
18 

Jan.       4,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Feb.     10,  1862. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Jan.      3,  1862. 
Feb.     10,  1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 

*Mar.  1,  1-62. 
April  13,  1862. 
April  15.  1864. 
July  5,  1862. 
*April  29,  1862. 
§Sept.  4,1862. 
|| 

Chene}7  Charles                  .    . 

Lunenburg  .    . 

43 

Dec.       9  1861. 

June  22,  1864. 

Cheney,  Frank       
Cheney  Nelson 

Burke      .... 
Luneuburg  . 

18 
28 

Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861 

July  5,  1862. 
June  22  1864 

Burke      .... 

25 

Jan.      6,  1862. 

*July  6,  1863. 

Coolbeth,  Ransom      .... 

Lowell     .... 

18 
24 

Nov.    19,  1861. 
Feb      17  1862 

ITJuly  30,  1865. 
§Sept  4  1862 

Croteau,  Joseph    

Lyndon    .... 

20 

Jan.     10  1862 

*June  18  1862 

Charleston       .    . 

39 

Jan      10  1862 

Feb  28  1863 

Lunenburg  . 

20 

Jan.     20  1862 

June  28  1865 

Drown,  Charles     
Drown  Geo  W     ... 

Concord  .... 
Concord  . 

20 
24 

Jan.     30,  1862. 
Jan      20  1862. 

1  June  23,  1864. 
2June  23  1864. 

Dun  ton,  Geo.  W    .     . 
Durlam,  Jonathan  L 
Eastman,  Alfred  W  . 
Fairbanks,  Deming  D 
Farnham,  Chas.  H     . 

Lunenburg  .    .    . 
Concord  .... 
Concord  .... 
Newark  .... 
Victory    .... 

25 
38 
31 
21 

18 

Jan.     22,  1862. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Jan.       4,  1862. 
Feb.     10,  1862. 
Dec.       7,  1861. 

*Nov.  1,  1863. 
HFeb.  1864. 
June  22,1864. 
June  22,  1864. 
*Sept.  4,1862. 

*Died  of  disease.  tWounded  at  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19,  and  died  on  above  date.  $  Wounded 
at  Port  Hudson  July  7,  1863,  and  died  on  above  date.  §Killed  at  Bayou  des  Allemands. 
HDied  at  Algiers,  La.  ^Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  IWounded  at  Port  Hudson, 
May  27,  1863,  and  discharged  above  date.  2Sick  at  New  Orleans. 


THE     EIGHTH     VERMONT. 
COMPANY  K. —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Gordon   John  G    .    .     . 

Newark 

21 

Feb      10  1862 

*July     8   1863 

Griffin  Otis  E 

21 

Jan        6  1862 

*Aug    14   1863 

Grow,  Cbas.  H  . 

19 

Nov     30  '  1861 

*Aug      5   1862 

Hart   Wm    A 

18 

Jan        8  1862 

June    28*  1865 

Hartwell,  Chas.  W     . 
Hartwell,  James  S    . 
Hartwell,  Sylvester  . 
Hawkins,  Walter  W 
Howard,  Barzilla  P  . 
Hudson  Wm.  C 

Brighton      .     .    . 
Lunenburg  .    .    . 
L  iinen  burg  .    .    . 
Johnson  .... 
Brighton      .     .     . 
Newark 

27 
22 
18 
18 
20 
21 

Jan.     28,  1862. 
Jan.     21,  1862. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Nov.    11,  1861. 
Dec.     23,  1861. 
Jan        8  1869 

July       5,  1862. 
*Nov.     5,  1862. 
June    28,  If65. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22,  1864. 
*May     7  1863 

Hunter,  Harrison       .     .    . 
Ingalls  Lewis  J    . 

Lyndon   .... 
Belvidere 

2i 
23 

Jan.'       1,  1662! 
Nov       2   1861 

June    22^  1864. 
June    28   1865 

Jenkins,  Willis      

Burke 

35 

Dec      23*  1861 

*July  °3  1862 

Jewell    Wm.  H 

91 

Jan      °1   1862 

1863 

Leary,  Joseph  

Derby 

18 

Feb.     11   1862. 

tSept     4,  1862. 

Leonard,  Willis  R     .... 
McQuade,  Thomas     .... 
Morse  Geo.  W  .    . 

Albany    .... 
Derby      .... 
Brighton 

18 
21 
20 

Nov.    21,1861. 
Dec.     27,  1861. 
Jan      28   1862 

June    28,  1865. 
June  22,1864. 
June    22  1864 

Mooney,  Otis  G       .... 

Lunenburg 

18 

Dec.     20*  1861. 

jMay   18,  1864 

Olcott  John  C 

18 

Dec        0  1861 

Mar      14  1863 

Parker,  Levi  H      

Lunenburg  . 

21 

Jan.     13,  1862 

June    28  1865 

Parker,  Oramel  H     .     .     .     . 
Peavey,  Geo  W    

Burke      .... 

25 
33 

Jan.       1,  1862. 
Feb      15  1862 

*Nov.     6,  1802. 
April          1864. 

Perham,  Lyman  F     .     .    .    . 
Perry  Jamon             .     .     . 

Brighton      .    .     . 
Charleston  .    . 

32 
19 

Jan.       4,  1862. 
Jan.     10  1862 

§Oct.    19,  1864. 
July    5  1862 

Petrie  William 

Brighton 

19 

Jan      11   1862 

HJune  28  1865 

Phillips,  John  C         .     . 

Lunenburg  . 

30 

Jan.       7  1862. 

Oct       15,  1862 

Pierce  Ezra  S            .    . 

28 

Jan       9  1862 

June    92  1864. 

Pond,  Eben       

Lunenburg       .    . 

31 

Dec.       9  1861 

IT  June  12  1863. 

Presbrey,  Charles  F  .    .    .    . 
Price  Edward            .... 

Lunenburg  .     .    . 
Brighton               . 

19 

22 

Jan.    21,  1862. 
Jan      11,  1862 

Feb.     22,  1863. 
June    22,  1864. 

Raymond,  Arthur  M     .     .     . 
Roseblade,  Henry      .... 
Ryder  John  A           . 

Brighton      .     .    . 
Coventry      . 

18 
18 
18 

Feb.       1,  1862. 
Feb.     17,  1862. 
Feb      12  1862. 

jMay   18,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    22  1864 

Granby    .... 

20 

Dec.       9  1861 

June    28,  1865. 

Shores,  George  W      .... 
Shores,  Paschal  P      .    . 
Silsby,  Wm.  H       
Simons  Solon  L    .     .    . 

Granby    .... 
Granby    .... 
Westmore    .    .    . 
Lunenburg  .     .     . 

22 
18 
25 
19 

Jan.       1,1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Jan.       1,  1862. 
Dec        2   1861. 

July      5,  1862. 
§Oct.    19,  1864. 
June    28,1865. 
June    28,  1865. 

Smith   James  W 

Newark  .    . 

23 

Feb.       3   1862. 

June   28,  1865 

Smith,  Rufus  D      
Spencer,  Orange  C     .    .    .    . 
Stoddard,  Hollis  K    . 

Newark  .... 
Westmore    .    .    . 
Burke  ... 

18 
18 
21 

Jan.     10,  1862. 
Feb.     10,  1862. 
Jan        1,  1862. 

April    12,  1864. 
June    22,  1864. 
Nov.     25,  1862. 

Stone  Chas  F  .    .    . 

Guildhall 

°0 

Jan.     18  1862 

tSept.    4,  1862. 

Strout,  Hooper  D  
Thomas,  Joseph  W    .    .     .     . 
Vaunce,  Warren  E    .    .     .    . 
White  Alanson          .    .    . 

Brighton      .    .     . 
Concord  .... 
Lunenburg  .     .     . 

23 
18 
34 
°9 

Jan.      7,  1862. 
Jan.       7,  1862. 
Dec.       9,  1861. 
Jan.       2,  1862 

Oct.      23,  1862. 
July      5,  1862. 
Oct.      15,  1862. 
July     16  1862. 

Woodruff  Henry  

18 

Jan.       1,  1862 

*July    4,  1863. 

Woodsum,  John  E    .     .    .    . 

Brighton      .     .     . 

25 

Dec.     27,  1861. 

June    22,  1864. 

RECRUITS. 

Total  

101 

28 

Dec.     29  1863 

Mar      10,  1864. 

Ball  Frederick 

16 

Dec        1   1863 

*July  25  1864 

22 

Dec      30  1863. 

June    28,  1865. 

19 

July     10  1862 

June      1  1865 

25 

Nov       1,  1863. 

Uune  28,  1865. 

Burk  Julius  W 

25 

July      7,  1862 

jMay   18   1864. 

Barber  I^aac  H 

23 

Feb      11   1865 

June    28,  1865. 

Bedell   Charles 

17 

Feb      14  1865 

June    28  1865. 

*Died  of  disease.     fKilled  at  Bayou  des  Allemauds.    ^Deserted.    §Killed  at  Cedar  Creek. 
HFifer.    UKilled  at  Port  Hudson.     IColored  cook. 


ORIGINAL     ROSTER. 
COMPANY  K. —  Continued. 


317 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Bigelow,  Horace  P    .    .    .    . 

21 
19 
22 
22 
33 
32 
21 
22 
25 
21 
21 
20 
18 
26 
21 
20 
18 
20 
18 
20 
18 
32 
39 
21 
19 
19 
29 
25 
26 
16 
28 
18 
19 
18 
18 
18 
34 

37 
22 
18 
18 
19 
21 
37 
19 
21 
29 
27 
34 
22 
24 
18 
45 
19 
22 
21 
19 
18 
25 

21 

Feb.     11,  1865. 
March  7.  1865. 
Dec.     15,  1863. 
Dec.       1.  1863. 
Jan.       4,  1864. 
Jan.     24,  1865. 
Jan.       6,  1865. 
Jan.       4,  1864. 
March  27,  1865. 
Dec.     24,  1864. 
Aug.      6,  1864. 
Jan.     13,  1865. 
Dec.     21,  1863. 
Sept.    24,  1864. 
Jan.     23,  1865. 
Dec.       5,  1863. 
Nov.    25,  1863. 
Dec.       1,1863 
Dec.       3,  1863. 
Jan.     23,  1865. 
Feb.     21,  1865. 
July    11,  1862. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Jan.       6,  1865 
Jan.       3,  1865. 
Feb.     11,  1865. 
Dec.     18,  1863. 
Feb.       6,  1865. 
Feb.       8,  1862. 
Dec.     18,  1863. 
July      9,  1862. 
Aug.      5,  1864. 
Feb.     20,  1865. 
May       3,  1864. 
Nov.    27,  1863. 
Jan.      4,  1864. 
Dec.     25,  1863. 
Dec        8,  1862. 
Jan.       4,  1864. 
March  10,  1865. 
Feb      14,  1865. 
Jan.     12,  1865. 
Sept.    12,  1864. 
Sept.      6,  1864. 
Dec.     31,  1863. 
Dec.       3,  1863. 
July       7,  1862. 
Feb.       1,  1863. 
Sept.      5,  1*64. 
Feb.     11,  1865. 
Dec.     30,  1863. 
Nov.     30,  1863. 
Jan.       2,  1864. 
Dec.     23,  1863. 
Feb.     11,  1865. 
Feb.     16,  1865. 
Feb.     20,  1865. 
Feb.     20,  1865. 
Feb.     11,  1865. 
Dec.     28,  1864. 
No  record. 
May      19,  1862. 

June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    18,  1864. 
June   28,  1865. 
*June  22,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
May     26,  1865. 
June    29,1865. 
*Mar.  24,  1865. 
No  record. 
June     1,  18G5. 
fNo  date  given 
*July  16   1864. 
JJuly  15,  1865. 
June    29,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
June   28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
*May   18,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
SSept.    4,  1862. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
II  Nov.  16,  1864. 
June    28,1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
*July  28,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
*July     5,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    12,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
tApril  18,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
*Mav   18,  1864. 
*May   18,  1864. 
June    28,  1865. 
June      1,  1865. 
June    2*,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
HOct.   19,  1864. 
June     9,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
May      13,  1865. 
*Mar.  24,  1865. 
June    28,  1865. 
ISept.  19,  1864. 

Cheney,  Leonard  C    .     .    .    . 

Carbo,  Joseph  

Douglas,  Franklin  B      ... 
Daniels,  Hiram  S  .     .    .    .    . 



Drown,  Noah,  Jr  

French'  Geo  W 

Goodall  Willard 

Goodell,  Almond  C     .    .    .     . 
Grant  Albert  D 

Hetzel  Paul 

Hungerford,  David  A    ... 

Jackson,  Jonathan  W  .    .     . 

Leed  '  Gilbert 

Lucas,  Franklin  M    .     .     .     . 

Martin,  Benjamin  S  .     .     .     . 
Miles,  Joseph  O     
Mor^e  Abial  T 

Morsini  Ernest                        . 

Murrill   Patrick 

Morse  Geo  W 

Morton,  Marshall  F  .     .     .     . 
Mulligan,  Edward     .... 
Nutter   Henry  B 

Olcott,  Brainerd  S     .... 

Penfleld,  Sam'l  T  
Placette  Pierre 

Phea^e  Philip 

Pottle  'Andrew  J 

Preston,  George     
Eoberts,  Abel  C     
Roberts,  Perley  P       .... 
Russell,  Franklin       .... 
Russell,  Hiram      
Rav.  Albert  
Robinson,  John      
Round,  Julius  S     
Round,  Stephen  D     .    .    .    . 
Rounds,  "Watson    
Ryan,  James     
Ryder,  John  A  
Scheikert,  Simon  



*Deserted.  tDied  of  disease.  ^Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  June  15,  1864,  and 
mustered  out  on  above  date.  §Killed  at  Bayou  des  Allemands.  ||  Wounded  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct. 
19, 1864,  and  died  on  above  date.  HKilled  at  Cedar  Creek.  1  Wounded  at  Winchester. 


THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 
COMPANY  K. —  Continued. 


Name. 

Residence. 

Age. 

Date  of 
Enystment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Silsby  Charles 

33 

Dec      10  1863 

*Mar    27  1864 

Simpson,  Sewall    . 

19 

Dec.     30  1863 

June    28  1865 

Silsbv  Almont 

18 

Feb      93  1865 

June    ''8*  1865 

Silshv,  Geo.  H   .     . 

18 

Sept.      9,  1864. 

June      1    1865 

Sleeper  James  M 

21 

Jan      23  1865 

June    28   1865 

Thomas,  Lewis 

25 

Dec        l'  1863 

*Oct     16*  1864* 

Thomas  Oscar  . 

16 

Dec      18   1863 

June    28  '  1865 

Tillison,  Stephen  W 

33 

Feb      10   1865 

June    28   1865 

Turbush   George 

18 

Dec      91    1863 

June    28   1865 

Ward  Frank 

24 

July       7   1862 

tMay    18   1864 

West   Franklin  E 

22 

Jan        4  1864 

June    28  1865 

Wood    Willard 

23 

March   6*  1869 

July       5*  1862 

Webb,  Darwin  A 

19 

Sept     13  1864 

June     1   1865 

Webb   Frederick  M 

18 

Feb      14  1805 

June    28    1865 

Webb,  William  H 

20 

Feb      21    1865 

June    28   1865 

Willson   Melvin  A 

19 

Sept     13  1864 

May     13  1865 

Wilson,  John     .     . 

25 

Dec  '    9o'  1864 

fMay    15  1865 

Total  
Aggregate   .    .    . 

87 
188 

*Died  of  disease.        tDeserted. 


RECAPITULATION.  319 

RECAPITULATION. 


Original  members,  Com.  oft'.  36 

En.  men  980— Total 1016 

GAIN. 

Promotion,  Fr.  other  regiments,  Com.  off.  2 

Transfer,     Fr.  other  regiments,  En.  men  2 

Recruits,  Appointed  Com.  off.  6 

Enlisted  men,  746— Total 752 

Total  gain 756 

Aggregate 1772 

LOSS. 

Promotion  to  other  regiments,  Com.  off.  1 

To  U.  S.  Army,  Com.  off.     2 

En.  men    34— Total 36 

Total  by  promotion 37 

Transfer,     To  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  En.  men  55 

To  Signal  Corps,  ,,       „  2 

To  regular  army,  ,,       ,,  1 

To  org's  of  other  States,          ,,       ,,  3 

To  other  regiments,  „       ,,  I 

Total  by  transfer 62 

Death,          Killed  in  action,  Com.  off'.    2 

En.  men   69— Total 71 

Fr.  w'ds  rec.  in  act'n,  Com.  off'.    2 

En.  men  31— Total 33 

Disease,  Com.  off.     6 

En.  men  207— Total 213 

Prisoners,  En.  men  20 

From  accident,  ,,       ,,  8 

Total  by  death 345 

Discharge,  Resignation,  Com.  oft'.  16 

Disability,  Com.  off.     4 

En.  men  224— Total 228 

For  w'ds  rec.  in  act'n,  Com.  off.     2 

En.  men    12— Total 14 

Dishonorable,  Com.  oft'.     3 

En.  men     6— Total 9 

Total  by  discharge 267 

Deserted,  86 

Dropped  from  rolls,  1 

Not  finally  accounted  for,  4 

Total  Loss      802 

Mustered  out  of  service,  Com.  off.  46 

En.  men  924— Total 970 

Aggregate 1772 


Total  wounded 236 

Total  re-enlisted 321 


APPENDIX. 


MONUMENTS    DEDICATED 

IN     THE 

VALLEY    OF    THE    SHENANDOAH 


CEREMONIES    AT    WINCHESTER. 

TWENTY-ONE  years  after  the  great  battles  of  Winchester  and  Cedar 
Creek,  the  survivors  of  the  Union  army,  organized  as  "  Sheridan's 
Veterans'  Association,"  and  the  veterans  of  Early's  Confederate 
army,  held  a  re-union  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  During  that  sojourn 
amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  great  conflict  in  arms,  two  monuments 
were  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  in  the  erection  of  which 
the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment  took  a  special  interest.  They  were 
the  beautiful  and  costly  gifts  of  one  of  the  youngest  soldiers  who  served 
in  the  Valley  campaigns,  a  brave  and  patriotic  comrade  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont,  in  whose  youthful  veins  flowed  the  martial  blood  of  two 
great-grandfathers  who  fought  and  suffered  under  Gen.  Washington. 

Through  this  thoughtful  generosity  of  the  donor  it  happened  that 
the  regiment  which  was  so  conspicuous  for  gallantry  on  the  fields  of 
Opequon  and  Cedar  Creek,  and  had  the  honor  to  charge  and  break 
the  enemy's  lines,  was  also  the  first  to  mark  those  historic  spots  with 
battle  monuments.  The  custom  of  thus  identifying  the  dates  and 
scenes  of  decisive  battles  is  as  old  as  history  itself,  and  other  engage 
ments  of  the  civil  war  had  already  been  recorded  in  scriptured  stone  ; 
but  it  was  the  happy  thought  of  Col.  Hill,  who  has  been  untiring  in 
his  efforts  to  perpetuate  the  records  of  the  great  deeds  of  his  own 
regiment,  to  first  plant  in  the  Valley  shafts  of  marble  from  the 
quarries  of  his  own  adopted  state,  in  honor  of  heroism  displayed. 


322  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

The  monuments  were  furnished  by  ex-Gov.  Redfield  Proctor,  at 
the  Vermont  Marble  Works  in  Rutland,  and  in  style  and  finish  are 
appropriate  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  designed.  The  one 
at  Winchester  stands  about  twelve  feet  high*  and  consists  of  a 
prismoidal  shaft  on  a  solid  plinth  and  base.  It  bears  the  following 
inscription  : 


HONOR   THE   BRAVE. 

ERECTED    TO 

Comtnejnorate  the  Bayonet  Charge  of  the 

EIGHTH    VERMONT    VOL'S. 

Led  by 

GEN'L   STEPHEN  THOMAS, 

Sept.  19,  1864. 

Committed  to  the  care  of  those  once  a 
brave  foe,  now  our  generous  friends. 

Gift  of  Comrade 
HERBERT    E.    HILL, 

Boston,  Mass. 
Dedicated  Sept.  79,  iS8j. 


It  was  a  lovely  September  day  just  twenty-one  years  after  the 
famous  battle,  when  this  monument  was  dedicated  in  the  presence  of 
a  vast  concoursj  of  people,  including  citizens  from  near  and  far,  as 
well  as  the  assembled  veterans  of  both  armies.  Nature  wore  her 
gorgeous  autumn  apparel,  the  soft  rustle  of  ripening  harvests  filled 
the  air,  and  a  smile  of  universal  peace  brooded  in  the  valley,  when 
the  monument  was  presented  in  these  words,  by  the  donor  : 


ADDRESS    OF    COL.    HILL. 

Veterans  of  the  Armies  of  U.  S.  Grant  and  R.  E.  Lee  : 

This  is  a  memorable  occasion.  The  surviving  members,  officers  and 
men,  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment,  are  assembled  to  dedicate  a  monu 
ment  to  mark  the  ground  covered  by  that  regiment  in  the  famous  bayonet 
charge  made  twenty-one  years  ago  this  very  afternoon.  We  have  as  wit- 


PRESENTING     THE    GIFT.  323 

nesses  during  this  service,  not  only  many  brave  sons  of  Vermont  and  sister 
states  who  fought  in  the  Union  army,  but  also  war-worn  veterans  who 
served  in  the  Confederate  army.  We  are  on  historic  and  sacred  ground ; 
for  on  and  near  this  spot  the  veterans  of  Sigel,  Banks,  Cook,  and  Sheridan 
of  the  Federal  armies,  and  Early,  Ramseur,  Gordon,  and  Stonewall  Jackson 
of  the  Confederate  armies,  have  struggled  at  one  time  or  other,  in  fearful 
and  bloody  encounters  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  the  civil  war.  The 
Eighth  Vermont,  in  erecting  this  monument,  knows  to-day  no  North,  no- 
South.  This  shaft  speaks  for  American  valor,  and  such  valor  is  public 
property,  and  belongs  to  the  nation ;  and  while  the  heroic  action  of  a  Ver 
mont  regiment  is  designated,  the  Confederate  veteran  may  proudly  point  to 
this  very  spot,  as  proving  his  own  bravery  and  heroism  in  contending  in  a 
hand-to-hand  conflict,  an  American  himself,  with  an  American. 

It  was  on  Sept.  iQth,  1864,  and  the  hosts  of  Early  and  Sheridan  were 
locked  in  battle's  embrace.  The  Confederates  had  repulsed,  and  by  gallant 
counter-charges  driven  back,  the  Federals ;  and  the  result  hung  trembling 
in  the  balance,  when  Gen.  Stephen  Thomas,  as  brave  an  officer  as  ever 
buckled  a  sword,  on  his  own  responsibility  during  this  crisis  ordered  the 
bayonet  charge  referred  to,  and  rode  himself  with  drawn  sword  in  front  of 
the  line  of  steel  bayonets,  recovering  more  than  the  lost  ground,  and  hold 
ing  the  same  till  the  close  of  the  battle.  His  charge  proved  to  be  the  turn 
ing-point  of  this  great  battle.  But  not  for  victory  or  defeat,  but  rather  to 
commemorate  the  lofty  heroism  of  the  regiment,  and  to  mark  the  pathway 
of  desperate  fighting,  where  noble  men  gave  up  their  lives,  is  this  monu 
ment  erected ;  and  with  equal  propriety  should  the  Confederate  veterans 
mark  the  locality  of  gallant  charges  by  their  own  troops. 

As  at  Gettysburg,  so  here  (where  eleven  battles  were  fought  during  the 
war),  where  fighting  raged  fiercely,  ought  memorials  to  be  erected,  that  the 
residents  of  this  beautiful  valley,  as  well  as  the  visitors  from  abroad,  may 
have  no  difficulty  in  locating  the  position  of  regiment  or  brigade  which  took 
part  in  the  far-famed  contests  which  took  place  in  and  around  this  historic 
city.  And  now,  through  you,  General  Stephen  Thomas,  president,  I  pre 
sent  this  monument  to  the  Association  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Volunteers. 
May  it  ever  stand  in  its  purity  before  the  generous  citizens  of  the  Shenan- 
cloah  Valley,  a  pleasant  reminder  of  the  fraternal  and  happy  greetings  of 
veterans  who  fought  during  the  war  as  only  Americans  could  fight,  but  who, 
when  the  war  was  over,  shook  hands  as  cordially  as  they  had  fought 
fiercely. 

This  monument  was  cut  from  the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  and 
chiselled  at  the  extensive  works  of  one  of  Vermont's  governors,  Colonel 
Redfield  Proctor,  who  commanded  a  Vermont  regiment  during  the  war. 
As  it  left  a  scene  of  busy  life  and  prosperity,  so  may  it  bring  to  the  sacred 
soil  of  Virginia  nothing  but  good  will  and  prosperity,  a  memorial  of  ever 
lasting  friendship  and  a  reunited  country. 


324  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

General    Stephen  Thomas    accepted    the    monument    in   behalf  of 
the  regiment  in  the  following  words  : 


ADDRESS    OF    GEN.   THOMAS. 

Colonel    Hill: 

Sir,  when  I  contemplate  your  youth,  and  that  your  patriotism  led 
you  to  enlist  into  the  United  States  service  when  less  than  sixteen 
years  of  age ;  when  I  remember  what  a  good,  a  faithful  soldier  you 
were  to  the  close  of  that  great  contest ;  how  you  have  travelled  over  the 
battlefields  of  this  our  common  country  since  the  war,  and  like  unto  a 
Christian  have  gathered  the  remains  of  fallen  heroes  which  you  found  upon 
those  fields,  and  deposited  them  in  national  cemeteries  ;  and  how  true  you 
are  and  have  been  to  the  constitution  and  flag  of  our  Union,  and  the  great 
brotherhood  of  man ;  and  how  by  industry  and  integrity  you  have  risen 
from  the  poor  American  soldier  boy  to  be  the  American  citizen  of  affluence ; 
—  now  in  looking  upon  this  marble  gift  to  your  old  regiment,  which  you 
loved  so  well,  I  feel  in  accepting  it,  as  I  now  do  in  behalf  of  the  Eighth 
Vermont  Regiment,  that  I  am  unable  to  find  words  to  suitably  thank  you. 
But,  sir,  by  these  noble  deeds  you  will  leave  a  rich  legacy  to  your  kindred 
and  to  mankind,  who  will  remember  you  with  gratitude  when  you  shall  have 
joined  our  braves  of  the  blue  and  the  gray  upon  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
where  wars  and  their  horrors  shall  never  arise,  where  sorrow  and  sighing 
shall  flee  away. 

Governor  Ormsbee,  sir,  in  behalf  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  Regiment, 
not  only  of  the  living,  but  in  memory  of  those  who  fell  upon  this  historic 
field  twenty-one  years  ago  this  day,  and  in  gratitude  for  the  peace  and 
good  will  which  now  prevails  between  Vermonters  and  Virginians,  I 
commit  this  matble  monument,  taken  from  our  mountain  home,  to  your 
care,  as  the  executive  and  representative  of  the  Green  Mountain  state,  in 
the  presence  of  this  vast  assemblage  of  the  blue  and  gray,  and  of  Him 
at  whose  birth  the  "  angels  sung  peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  man,"  with 
the  request  that  you  ask  our  generous  brethren  of  Virginia,  in  considera 
tion  of  the  patriotic,  fraternal,  and  loyal  spirit  in  which  the  donor,  Colonel 
Hill,  gives  this  marble,  that  they  will  accept  its  care  in  the  spirit  in  which 
it  is  presented ;  that  it  may  stand  as  a  token,  like  a  "  bow  in  the  firma 
ment,"  that  this  fair  land  shall  never  again  be  deluged  in  fraternal  blood, 
and  that  not  only  Vermonters  and  Virginians,  but  also  the  citizens  of  all 
our  states,  shall  live  in  peace  down  the  long  vista  of  coming  centuries,  until 
after  this  marble  shaft  shall  have  crumbled  into  dust.  In  this  request,  and 
in  this  spirit,  I  feel  that  I  but  speak  the  sentiments  of  the  regiment,  who 
propose  ever  to  "keep  step  to  the  music  of  the  Union."  And  I  trust  you 
will  say  they  are  the  sentiments  of  the  freemen  of  Vermont. 


WORDS    OF   ACCEPTANCE.  325 

Governor  Onnsbee  accepted  the  monument,  in  behalf  of  the  stater 
as  follows  : 

ADDRESS    OF    GOV.    ORMSBEE. 

Sir,  standing  here  on  historic  ground,  in  presence  of  loyal  American 
citizens,  and  in  the  presence  of  an  assemblage  of  people  who  know  no 
North,  no  South,  no  East,  no  West,  and  who  only  know  that  they  are 
citizens  of  a  great  and  justly  proud  nation,  whose  territory  is  boundless 
as  is  their  admiration  for  it,  as  the  official  representative  of  the  state  of 
Vermont,  and  in  her  name,  I  cheerfully  perform  the  duty  devolving  upon  me. 
How  gratifying  and  fitting  that  under  Providence  you  should  be  spared  to 
participate  in  these  ceremonies  !  How  fitting  and  proper  that  to  you  should 
have  fallen  the  duty  of  receiving  this  priceless  gift  from  the  hands  of  our 
brave  and  generous  friend  !  Sir,  I  am  impressed  with  my  inability  to 
express  fittingly  and  in  appropriate  words  the  obligations  of  the  state  of 
Vermont,  and  the  gratitude  of  the  people,  to  Colonel  Hill,  for  the  patriotic 
and  generous  gift  he  has  committed  to  your  hands,  and  by  you  passed  over 
to  the  state  to  dedicate  in  memory  of  the  patriotism  of  her  soldier  sons  who 
so  nobly  died  upon  this  field  twenty-one  years  ago  to-day.  This  generosity 
on  the  part  of  Colonel  Hill  deserves,  and  I  trust  will  have  further  public 
recognition  and  acknowledgment  at  the  hands  of  the  state.  I  am  moved 
to  say,  in  the  name  of  a  grateful  state,  to  you  and  Colonel  Hill,  and  to  each 
and  all  of  your  comrades  who  took  part  in  the  event  commemorated,  this 
monument  is  erected  and  dedicated  to  the  memory  and  in  honor  of  the 
living  participants  as  well  as  to  your  dead  comrades.  To  you  and  them  this 
fact  is  of  more  concern  and  significance,  and  has  much  greater  potency 
and  meaning,  than  any  words  of  mine,  could  I  fittingly  express  the  deep 
and  lasting  gratitude  of  our  commonwealth.  This  monument,  sir,  is  the 
voice  of  the  state  to  you  and  your  comrades.  If  the  state  did  not  furnish 
the  tablet,  she  accepts  and  adopts  it,  and  by  and  through  it  bears  testimony, 
and  makes  grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  valor  of  her  sons  engaged  in 
the  event  it  commemorates. 

Governor  Ormsbee  then  addressed  the  representative  of  the  mayor  of 
Winchester,  asking  that  the  care  of  the  monument  should  be  assumed 
by  him  in  behalf  of  the  veterans  of  the  Confederate  army  and  the 
citizens  of  Virginia,  and  closed  in  these  words  : 

Sir,  allow  me  to  express  our  deep  sense  of  thankfulness  to  your  citizens 
and  to  yourself,  for  the  kindness  and  hospitality  vou  have  lavished  upon  us 
during  our  stay  in  your  midst.  It  will  be  a  pleasant  realization  to  carry  back 
to  our  homes.  I  now,  sir,  leave  this  monument  in  the  keeping  of  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Virginia,  trusting  it  will  stand  here  as  a  bond  of  unending 
peace,  confidence,  and  love  ;  and,  in  conclusion,  let  me  express  the  wish 


326  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

and  hope,  in  behalf  of  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  also  in  behalf  of  all  our 
soldier  sons,  living  and  dead,  that  the  sons  of  Virginia  who  wore  the  gray 
will  receive  and  consider  this  monument  in  the  same  spirit  with  which 
they  have  received  and  considered  us  who  have  placet!  it  upon  their  soil ; 
and  we  entertain  not  a  doubt  that  as  to  this  their  magnanimity  will  be 
equalled  only  by  their  valor  and  bravery  in  battle,  and  with  this  we  will  be 
thrice  content. 

Mayor  Williams,  of  Winchester,  was  represented  by  Capt.  John  A. 
Nulton,  who  had  served  with  distinction  in  Stonewall  Jackson's  army, 
and  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  place.  He  pledged,  in  the  name 
of  the  Confederates,  that  this  monument  should  stand  as  safely  as 
among  the  hills  of  Vermont,  and  he  declared  that  they  would  guard 
this  shaft  sacredly,  and  would  never  allow  a  single  letter  to  be  effaced 
on  its  pure  white  surface.  "  Rather  than  allow  it  to  be  removed,  we 
would  wish  that  it  might  be  extended  to  the  clouds,  and  that  angels 
of  peace  might  hover  around  its  summit,  symbolical  of  the  union 
of  friends  now  so  firmly  established  between  all  sections  in  our  land." 

Col.  George  N.  Carpenter,  of  Boston,  was  then  introduced,  and 
gave  the  following  dedicatory  poem,  which  is  inserted  by  request : 

POEM    OF    COL.    CARPENTER. 

My  muse,  ere  she  attempt  to  sing 
Of  noble  deeds,  pauses  to  bring 
A  garland  for  the  brow  of  one 
Who  in  the  ways  of  peace  hath  won 
True  honors  from  his  fellow-men, 
As  worthily  bestowed  as  when, 
Girding  his  sword  in  army  days, 
He  fronted  death  and  conquered  praise. 
In  his  warm  patriot  embrace, 
Each  brother  comrade  has  a  place. 
Here  let  the  name  be  cherished  ever, 
Of  Colonel  Hill,  the  generous  giver. 


When  Clio  wrote  on  hist'ry's  page 
The  deeds  of  men  in  classic  age, 
She  wrought  in  most  enduring  art, 
The  scenes  where  valor  played  its  part. 
'T  is  not  where  peace  in  rosy  bowers 
Sleeps  idly  through  the  tranquil  hours, 
That  glory's  fiery  beacons  rise, 


THE   POETS    TRIBUTE.  $2? 

The  hero  to  immortalize  ; 
But  eager  millions  stoop  to  read 
The  plaudits  of  each  noble  deed, 
When  tragic  pens  are  dipped  in  red, 
To  write  of  wars  and  patriot  dead. 
The  quiet  feet  of  modest  worth 
Adorn  the  rugged  paths  of  earth, 
But  fame's  loud  chariot  o'er  the  plain 
Rolls  Caesar  or  a  Charlemagne. 
The  land-locked  waters  softly  chime, 
Mid-ocean  thunders  are  sublime. 
June's  languid  breath  can  never  play 
The  storm-pipe  of  a  winter  day. 
'T  is  thus  great  battles  seem  to  be 
The  mountain  peaks  of  history, 
From  whose  bold  summits  is  defined 
The  way  of  progress  for  mankind. 

Again  upon  the  field  we  rest, 

Where  battle  o'er  the  sloping  crest 

Did  rage  ;  and  now  before  us  rise, 

Like  a  mirage  in  western  skies, 

Reflecting  in  the  mental  air, 

The  picture  of  the  battle's  glare  ; 

When  cannon  spoke  with  heated  breath, 

Its  ^inai  decalogue  of  death  ; 

When  rifles  dropped  their  hail  of  lead, 

Strewing  the  earth  with  maimed  and  dead. 

The  sloping  hillsides  and  the  wood 

Drank  up  the  flow  of  throbbing  blood, 

From  wounds  of  heroes  left  to  die, 

While  serried  columns  hurried  by. 

No  teeth  of  dragons  o'er  this  field 

Were  sown,  that,  sprouting,  they  might  yield 

A  harvest-host  of  warriors  brave 

To  fight  their  native  land  to  save ; 

But  brothers  of  one  household  rose, 

In  deadly  strife  as  mortal  foes. 

No  oracle  from  Delphi  spoke, 
Before  the  sleeping  camp  awoke, 
To  prophesy  the  victor's  name 
To  be  immortalized  by  fame 
At  Winchester,  that  autumn  day 
Just  one-and-twenty  years  away  ; 
But  in  the  heart  of  every  man 
Led  by  Early  or  Sheridan, 
Convictions  came  which  all  did  feel, — 


328  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

Each  had  a  foenian  worth  his  steel. 
And  when  the  voices  of  the  night 
Rose  at  the  fading  of  the  light, 
They  sang  of  valor's  noble  cost, 
In  the  drear  requiem  of  the  lost. 
Then  o'er  the  field  an  angel  white 
Hovered,  or  seemed  to  waft  in  sight, 
To  laud  brave  men  on  either  side, 
The  children  of  the  nation's  pride. 
Ah  !  not  alone  on  Grecian  plain, 
Shall  chiselled  marble  crown  the  slain, 
Nor  in  the  sculptured  Parthenon, 
Shall  scriptures  speak  of  victories  won: 
But  here,  'neath  southern  skies,  we  raise 
This  marble  record  of  the  days 
Heroic.     Let  it  also  tell 
The  story  that  in  hearts  doth  dwell, 
Of  hate  appeased,  of  wrath  deplored, 
Fraternal  joy  and  love  restored  ; 
A  Union  surer,  since  the  hands 
Of  brothers  tied  its  silken  bands. 

Cut  from  the  everlasting  hills 

Of  old  Vermont,  whose  playful  rills 

Sing  as  they  murmur  toward  the  sea 

A  pastoral  song  of  liberty, 

Here  let  this  marble  be  to-day, 

A  greeting  to  Virginia, 

Whose  noble  history  hath  been 

The  admiration  of  all  men  ; 

A  pledge,  as  coming  years  increase, 

Of  kinship  and  enduring  peace. 

So  let  its  quiet  lesson  teach 

That  patriot  hands  would  heavenward  reach, 

To  pluck  a  boon  for  all  the  brave 

Who  fought  their  liberties  to  save. 

No  more  in  malice  or  in  strife, 
Shall  human  hearts  pulsate  with  life, 
As  here  we  breathe  the  southern  air 
Once  more  upon  these  fields  so  fair. 
Not  ours  the  hostile  hand  to  raise, 
Or  voice  to  speak,  except  in  praise  ; 
Nor  where  the  sunshine  seeks  to  play, 
Shall  angry  clouds  obscure  the  day. 

We  rear  this  stone  to  comrades  slain, 
Whose  memory  and  deeds  remain, 


ELOQUENT    CONCLUSION.  329 

The  monument  of  better  things 

Than  war's  victorious  music  sings, 

A  landmark  in  the  history 

Of  an  unbroken  peace  to  be. 

Around  this  sentinel  of  stone, 

We  sing  the  greater  victory  won, 

How  Gray  and  Blue  here  pledge  anew 

The  fealty  of  brothers  true. 

And  as  in  olden  time  a  shrine 

Did  stimulate  desires  divine, 

In  after  time  this  shaft  shall  be 

Inspirer  of  true  loyalty. 

For,  spanning  all  the  arch  of  sky, 

One  bow  of  promise  hangs  on  high, 

O'er  South  and  North.     '  T  is  come  to  stay  ; 

The  herald  of  a  happier  day, 

Whose  golden  hours,  from  sun  to  sun, 

Bear  witness  of  new  life  begun. 

Oh,  gallant  wearers  of  the  gray, 

To  your  kind  custody  to-day 

Commit  we  now  this  sacred  urn. 

As  beacon  fires  of  sunrise  burn 

To  guide  the  earth  from  darkling  gloom, 

And  in  fresh  beauty  make  it  bloom, 

So  from  this  place  shall  Honor  rise 

To  lead  mankind  'neath  fairer  skies, 

And  light  the  beacon  of  the  free, — 

A  loyal,  Christian  chivalry. 

After  the  poem,  Col.  John  B.  Mead  gave  a  very  interesting  account 
of  the  charge  made  at  the  battle  of  Winchester  by  the  Eighth  Ver 
mont,  pointing  out  the  different  positions  which  were  held  during  the 
morning,  which  were  easily  seen  from  the  high  point  of  ground  where 
the  monument  stands.  His  vivid  description  was  deeply  interesting 
to  all  present.  Capt.  F.  H.  Buff  urn,  of  the  Fourteenth  New  Hamp 
shire  Regiment,  closed  the  speaking  with  a  short  but  eloquent  address, 
which  thrilled  the  hearts  of  all  who  heard  it,  and  was  the  theme  of 
praise  throughout  the  camp.  The  following  is  an  abstract  of  his 
remarks  : 

There  are  historic  episodes  whose  magnificent  proportions  can  be  seen 
only  from  some  high  vantage  ground.  Rising  from  the  long  levels  of 
human  history  we  find  here  and  there  such  happy  eminences.  The  colos 
sal  events  identified  with  the  progress  of  mankind  must  be  contemplated 
from^distance  in  order  that  their  splendid  proportions  and  sublime  rela- 


33°  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

tions  may  be  adequately  appreciated.  We  stand  on  vantage  Around  in 
this  hour.  From  the  distance  of  more  than  two  decades  we  gaze  upon  the 
heroic  spectacle  whose  vigor  and  moment  spoke  the  word  for  this  monu 
ment  to  rise.  The  courage,  the  manhood  of  the  Union  soldier  is  here 
peculiarly  commemorated,  and  it  is  fitting  that  I  should  here  add  my  testi 
mony.  Not  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  I  yet  enjoyed  the  distinc 
tion  of  participating  with  you  in  this  charge,  and  of  observing  your  signal 
bravery.  On  this  very  spot  that  remarkable  charge  culminated,  and  I  feel 
honored  in  having  been  selected  to  identify  the  spot  and  locate  the  monu 
ment.  On  this  field  the  sturdy  attributes  of  Vermont's  nobility  shone  forth 
conspicuous  and  triumphant.  Col.  Hill,  the  generous  donor  of  this  shaft, 
has  added  new  lustre  to  your  renown  by  this  fitting  tribute  to  your  excellent 
achievements. 

Col.  Thomas,  I  now  grasp  your  hand  on  the  very  ground  where,  twenty- 
one  years  ago  to-day,  you  grasped  mine  and  gave  me  the  coveted  benedic 
tion  of  a  brave  commander.  Valiant  and.  honored  soldier,  I  was  proud  of 
your  notice  and  commendation  years  ago,  in  that  hour  of  rising  victory ;  I 
am  unspeakably  happy  in  the  broader  favor  of  your  friendship  in  this  hour 
of  sacred  commemoration.  We  followed  you  then,  and  we  cannot  believe 
that  the  leadership  of  such  men  can  ever  terminate.  Wherever  noble 
deeds  are  yet  to  be  done,  wherever  vital  principles  are  trembling  in  the 
balance,  there  such  as  you  will  lead,  through  all  the  ages ;  nor  will  you  lack 
for  faithful  followers  to  swell  your  victorious  columns. 

The  whole  assembly  then  sung  two  stanzas  of  "America,"  led 
by  Mr.  James  L.  Johnson,  of  Springfield ;  after  which  Rev.  J.  E. 
Wright,  of  Montpelier,  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the  memorial 
to  the  sons  of  Vermont  was  left  to  the  chivalric  care  and  custody  of 
the  sons  of  Virginia. 


L   STIPMIK1 

Soft.  W,  1894 

CextmiUed  Uthe  eon  tfOuseinee  a 

bravi  fn«, nem-  fur  grea*r<ms  friends. 

Gift  tf  Comrade 

EEKiEKT  I.  BSfllLIL, 

Hasten,  Mas*. 
Medicated  Sept. 


ANOTHER    SCENE.  331 


CEREMONIES    AT    CEDAR    CREEK. 

THE  other  gift  of  Col.  Hill  was  erected  on  the  spot  where  the 
brigade  led  by  Gen.  (then  Colonel)  Thomas  checked  the  advance  of 
the  Confederate  forces  in  the  early  morning  of  the  igth  of  October, 
1864,  and  where  the  Eighth  Vermont  suffered  such  terrible  losses  in 
a  hand-to-hand  encounter  with  their  foes.  The  description  in  given 
in  the  presentation  speech  which  follows,  and  the  inscription  upon 
it  reads : 

"  The  Eighth  Vermont  Volunteers,  General  Stephen  Thomas  commanding 
the  brigade,  advanced  across  this  field  on  the  morning  of  October  19,  1864, 
engaged  the  enemy  near  and  beyond  this  point,  and  before  sunrise  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  no  men,  three  color-bearers  were  shot  down,  and 
thirteen  out  of  sixteen  commissioned  officers.  Whole  number  of  men  en 
gaged,  164.  Dedicated  September,  1885.  Gift  of  Herbert  E.  Hill." 

SPEECH    OF    COL.   HILL. 

Comrades  of  the  Eighth    Vermont,  and  Survivors  of  the  Union  and  Con 
federate  Armies: 

The  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  was  the  most  remarkable  battle  of  the  war. 
Indeed,  we  may  say  there  were  two  distinct  battles  during  the  day;  and  it 
was  in  the  first  of  these,  on  the  morning  of  October  19,  1864,  that  one  of 
the  most  savage  and  bloody  fights  of  the  great  civil  war  occurred  on  and 
near  this  spot. 

The  Eighth  Vermont,  accompanied  by  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  and  One 
Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  led  by  Gen.  Stephen  Thomas,  and  by 
direct  verbal  order  of  Major  General  Emory,  crossed  the  pike  at  early  dawn, 
and  marched  into  the  very  teeth  of  the  war-trained  veterans  of  Gordon's 
and  Kershaw's  several  divisions. 

The  solid  block  of  Vermont  marble,  which  we  are  assembled  to-day 
to  dedicate,  was  purposely  carved  and  fashioned  on  three  sides  in  rough 
to  represent  the  savage  and  peculiar  feature  of  that  awful  struggle. 
It  represents  the  regiment  as  it  was  surrounded  at  one  time  on  three 
sides  by  an  excited  foe,  fresh  from  their  great  victory  over  Crook's  Corps. 
It  represents  the  three  color-bearers  who  were  shot  down  in  the  terrible 
hand-to-hand  conflict  and  who  died.  It  represents  three  fourths  of  the  com 
missioned  officers  killed  or  wounded.  Again,  I  may  say  it  represents  the 
regiment's  total  loss,  for  almost  three  fourths  of  the  number  of  men  and 
officers  actually  engaged  were  killed  or  wounded.  Surely  all  the  good 


332  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

people  of  this  broad  land  will  join  with  us  in  commemorating  the  valor  of 
the  brave  fellows  who  nobly  stood  when  it  seemed  almost  certain  death  to 
fight  longer.  I  present  this  marble  memorial  to  the  Eighth  Vermont  Vet 
eran  Volunteer  Association. 

Capt.  S.  E.  Howard,  of  Boston,  who  was  twice  wounded  at  Cedar 
Creek,  accepted  the  monument  on  the  part  of  the  regiment  in  the  fol 
lowing  words : 


ADDRESS    OF    CAPT.    HOWARD. 

Comrades  and  Friends  : 

We  read  in  sacred  history  that  Jacob  fled  secretly  f ro  n  Laban  the 
Syrian  to  Mount  Gilead,  carrying  away  his  daughters  and  property  ;  and 
when  Laban  pursued,  and  came  up  with  the  fugitives,  and  it  seemed 
blood  must  flow,  the  Lord  rebuked  Laban's  wrath.  And  he  said  to 
Jacob,  "  Come  let  us  make  a  covenant,  I  and  thou ;  and  let  it  be  for  a 
witness  between  me  and  thee."  And  Jacob  took  a  stone  and  set  it  up  for  a 
pillar.  And  Laban  called  it  Mizpah;  for  he  said,  "The  Lord  watch 
between  me  and  thee ;  and  this  pillar  shall  be  a  witness  that  I  will  not  pass 
over  this  stone  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt  not  pass  over  this  pillar  to  me,  for 
harm." 

Twenty-one  years  ago  on  the  iQth  of  October  next,  the  ground  on  which 
we  stand  was  covered  by  two  armies  fighting  with  a  fury  seldom  equalled, 
and  never  surpassed.  Ever  since  that  day  have  I  remembered  most  vividly 
my  sensations,  as  I  was  wakened  in  the  gray  dawn  of  that  October  morn 
ing  by  what  I  thought  for  an  instant  was  a  furious  thunder-storm,  so  contin 
uous  was  the  dreadful  roll  of  musketry.  Springing  out,  I  shouted,  "  Fall 
in,  men!"  and  during  the  instant  the  line  was  forming,  I  listened  eagerly  to 
the  firing,  congratulating  myself  that  whoever  had  struck  Crook's  Eighth 
Corps  had  found  a  hard  nut  to  crack,  when  the  air  was  suddenly  filled  with 
the  oncoming  of  that  short,  sharp,  quick  yell,  which  we  had  heard  so  often 
and  dreaded  so  much.  And  when  I  held  my  breath,  hoping  —  nay,  know 
ing —  that  in  an  instant  I  should  hear  the  long-drawn,  confident  shout  of 
our  comrades,  as  they  hurled  back  their  defiance,  my  heart  sank  as 
never  before  with  inexpressible  horror;  for  that  shout  never  came,  and  I 
realized,  with  the  greatest  dismay,  that  the  terrible  wail  of  musketry  was 
from  our  foes,  —  that  our  left  was  being  turned,  and  that  a  great  disaster 
stared  us  in  the  face. 

A  momsnt  later  our  brigade  received  orders  to  take  position  in  the  edge 
of  the  timber  across  the  pike,  and  check  the  enemy's  advance,  and  the 
movement  was  made  on  the  run.  In  a  moment  it  was  apparent  that  our 
left,  Crook's  Corps,  was  helplessly  broken.  Officers  were  fleeing  for  their 
lives,  half-dressed,  and  with  their  swords  in  their  hands.  Hundreds  of  men 


CONQUER    OR    PERISH.  333 

rushed  past  just  as  they  had  sprung  from  their  blankets.  The  surprise  was 
complete.  The  best  soldiers  in  the  world  (and  no  more  gallant  troops  than 
the  Eighth  Corps  were  ever  mustered)  could  have  done  nothing  but  fly.  For 
our  little  brigade  the  moment  was  supreme.  Every  man  felt  that  the  destiny 
of  that  great  army,  and  perhaps  of  the  whole  country,  hung  fearfully  trem 
bling  in  the  balance.  We  well  knew  that  for  ourselves  we  could  not  "  pluck 
the  flower  safety  from  this  nettle  danger." 

The  only  question  was,  could  we  check  the  furious  tide,  could  we  hold 
that  line  for  half  an  hour,  and  thus  give  the  Nineteenth  and  Sixth  Corps 
time  to  form  a  new  line  ?  And  the  reply  which  our  hearts  gave  was,  "We 
will  do  it,  or  perish  in  the  attempt!  "  And  for  answer  whether  we  redeemed 
our  pledge,  let  the  words  chiselled  on  this  stone  reply:  "Out  of  148  men 
and  16  officers  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  who  entered  this  fight,  no  men  and 
1 3  officers  were  killed  and  wounded  before  sunrise."  Like  a  rock  stood 
that  little  line.  The  rushing  wave  of  the  enemy  seeking  to  engulf  us  was 
shattered  against  that  living  rampart  as  the  waves  of  old  ocean  are  broken 
when  they  hurl  themselves  against  the  eternal  cliffs.  But  as  old  ocean 
gathers  herself  after  each  repulse,  and  bursts  again  upon  the  rocky  barrier, 
so  did  our  gallant  foes  again  and  again  hurl  themselves  against  us. 

No  pen  can  describe  the  scene,  no  pencil  paint  its  fury.  The  deep  gloom 
of  the  early  morning  was  lighted  up  by  the  incessant  flashes  of  musketry 
from  either  side  ;  the  air  was  filled  with  missiles,  and  heavily  laden  with  the 
roar  of  battle,  the  shock  of  artillery,  and  the  shouts  of  the  combatants. 
Three  separate  times  were  the  colors  of  the  Eighth  Vermont  in  the  grasp 
of  the  enemy;  three  color-bearers  poured  out  their  life-blood  and  died 
clinging  to  the  flag ;  but  three  times  we  beat  back  the  enemy,  and  bore  our 
precious  flag  from  the  field. 

But  our  pledge  had  been  kept,  sealed  with  blood,  and  at  the  price  of  a 
great  slaughter,  but  still  kept.  For  half  an  hour  under  the  dauntless 
Thomas  had  we  held  in  check  the  whole  centre  of  the  enemy's  advance  ; 
and  when  our  little  remnant  was  finally  swept  from  the  field,  the  Nineteenth 
and  Sixth  Corps,  in  their  new  position,  gained  while  we  fought,  were  in 
comparative  readiness  for  the  assault. 

Looking  from  that  scene  of  carnage  of  twenty-one  years  ago,  when  we 
who  are  now  gathered  here  in  friendly  unity  were  deadly  foes,  let  me  revert 
to  the  sentiment  expressed  in  my  opening  words  —  may  not  this  stone  be 
Mizpah  to  us  of  the  North  and  South  —  once  foes,  now  friends  ?  Placed 
here,  not  for  glorification,  but  to  mark  the  spot  where  our  comrades  fell,  to 
mark  the  place  of  an  important  public  event,  and  a  turning-point  in  a 
nation's  history,  let  it  also  have  a  deeper  meaning  to  us  of  the  North,  and 
you,  our  brothers  in  the  South.  Let  it  be  a  pillar  of  stone  which  shall  for 
ever  mark  an  era  of  genuine  fraternal  feeling  between  us.  Let  it  be  an 
everlasting  covenant  that  we  will  not  pass  over  this  stone  to  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  not  pass  over  this  pillar  to  us,  for  harm. 


334  THE    EIGHTH    VERMONT. 

And  to  the  generous  donor  of  this  monument,  in  behalf  of  my  brothers 
of  the  North  I  accept  it,  pledging  ourselves  that  it  shall  be  our  constant 
aim  to  promote  that  feeling  of  sympathy  and  kindness  between  the  two 
sections  which  he  so  much  desires,  and  with  him  earnestly  hoping  that  the 
time  is  near  at  hand  when  there  shall  be  no  North,  no  South,  but  one  coun 
try  united  forever. 

He  concluded  by  introducing  Gen.  Stephen  Thomas,  who  com 
manded  the  brigade  in  which  the  Eighth  Vermont  belonged.  Gen 
eral  Thomas  gave  a  detailed  account  of  the  experiences  of  his  brigade 
during  the  battle  in  the  morning  and  in  the  afternoon.  Capt.  Moses 
McFarland,  who  commanded  the  Eighth  Vermont  during  the  day  after 
Colonel  Mead  was  wounded,  then  made  an  address,  in  which  he 
spoke  of  the  brilliant  services  of  his  regiment  and  brigade,  and  com 
mended  the  sterling  qualities  which  belong  to  the  American  soldier. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  his  address  : 


SPEECH    OF    CAPT.    McFARLAND. 

Comrades : 

In  the  years  not  long  since  gone,  noble  men  left  our  own  loved  Green 
Mountains,  left  fathers  and  mothers,  wives  and  children,  left  all  that  life 
holds  dear,  to  offer  up  themselves  as  sacrifices,  if  need  be,  to  preserve  the 
integrity  of  this  nation.  Many  there  were  who  never  returned.  Many 
there  were  who  looked  for  the  last  time  upon  their  dear  ones  at  home. 
Many  there  were  whose  bones  moulder  in  the  soil  of  the  Shenandoah.  It 
is  but  fitting  that  we,  as  comrades  of  those  brave  men,  should  make  pilgrim 
ages  to  this  spot,  made  sacred  by  the  blood  of  our  brothers  in  arms,  and 
erect  here  a  monument  in  memory  of  the  sublime  courage  that  characterized 
the  sacrifice  of  that  terrible  iQth  of  October,  1864.  They  died  that  liberty 
should  not  perish,  that  generations  yet  unborn  should  be  blessed  with  the 
boon  of  free  self-government.  Nor  was  it  an  unwilling  sacrifice.  It  was 
made  as  freely  as  the  lives  offered  up  were  dear.  Can  we  do  less  than  strew 
this  ground  with  flowers  and  engage  in  these  simple  ceremonies  ? 

Not  alone  does  this  soil  cover  the  dear  forms  of  our  fellow  comrades. 
Here  lie  buried  fond  hopes,  noble  ambitions,  and  bright  anticipations  of 
happy  and  prosperous  lives  cut  off  in  the  early  morning  of  that  awful  day. 
Nor  do  we  only  weep  for  the  fallen,  but  far  away  among  the  green  hills  of 
Vermont,  father  and  mother,  sister,  brother,  wife,  grieve  for  him  who  here 
gave  up  his  life  in  defence  of  his  country's  flag.  Men  of  noble  manhood, 
types  of  the  old  Green  Mountain  State,  worthy  sons  of  worthy  sires,  you 
went  bravely  forth  at  your  country's  call,  leaving  all  that  was  dear  behind, 
but  the  good  old  flag  which  you  gallantly  followed  until  your  names  were 


THE    CLOSING    PRAYER.  335 

enrolled  in  the  heavenly  roster  beyond  the  river.     You  have  left  us  for  the 
rest  that  awaits  us  all.     You  have  left  us  for  the  land  where 

"  No  vision  of  the  morrow's  strife 
The  warrior's  dream  alarms. 
No  braying  horn  or  screaming  fife 
At  dawn  shall  call  to  arms." 

Captain  McFarland  was  followed  by  Gen.  W.  W.  Grout,  member 
of  congress  from  Vermont,  who  compared  our  country  to-day  with 
what  it  was  prior  to  the  war,  bringing  out  some  interesting  statistics 
going  to  show  that  the  nation  to-day  is  stronger  in  every  respect  than 
it  was  before  war  desolated  the  land.  His  address  was  closely 
listened  to.  Col.  John  B.  Mead,  who  commanded  the  regiment  on 
the  morning  of  October  19,  1864,  and  who  was  early  wounded  in  the 
action,  then  briefly  spoke,  and  closed  the  exercises  by  prayer.  A 
great  many  veterans  of  the  other  regiments  were  present  at  the 
exercises. 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

202  Main  Librar 


LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

4" 


DUTASSTAMPEDJILOW 
JLL     5 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DD6,  60m,  1 2/80        BERKELEY,  CA  9  ei 


YC  51249 


M17667O 


£533 


C3 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


